Saturday, December 25, 2010

Jesus is the Gift

Jesus is the gift that perfectly fits every heart,
and it is with His love that all celebration starts.
We rejoice in Him as we remember His birth
and thank God for sending His only Son to earth.
His life led from a manger to a cross on a hill,
where He faithfully followed His Father's perfect will.
He freely laid down everything so that we would live,
and there is no greater treasure anyone could give.
Like a scarlet ribbon His love wrapped around the cross,
and He offered it to us all at the greatest cost.
So when we give from the heart we remember what He's done
and honor the perfect gift--God's one and only Son.
                                          --Holley Gerth

"Every good and perfect gift is from above.  James 1:17

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas

  On this December 24, 2010, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas
My prayer for you.  May you worship the precious gift of His Son, Jesus, the Savior of the world.  I pray that God will enrich your lives with the presence of His Spirit.  I am asking that God will give you wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  May your eyes and heart be opened to all that He has in store for you.  I pray that you will have the strength to walk in obedience to Him.  In Jesus's glorious name, Amen.
  Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year.  I love you.
  
p.s. We will begin looking at what God made when He made us woman- look for that in January, 2011

Thursday, December 23, 2010

December is Hard

 Is it me or does it seem like life is much harder in December?  I don't just mean the seemingly endless "to-do list", the parties, programs, cards, baking, decorating, cleaning, wrapping, or  appointments.  It seems like I have many friends and family members that are also dealing with some seriously hard life situations.  Situations like illness, surgeries, a totaled car, unexpected expenses, family conflicts, pending lawsuit, overtime hours, water damage, stress, loneliness or loss of a job.  You can add what you are dealing with to the list.
  • Isaiah 9:6  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
God knew how you would need his Son. When God gave you Jesus, He put the government of your life on His shoulders.  You can run to Him to help in every situation.  He is a Wonderful Counselor.  You have a Mighty God in the midst of a hard life.  Your Everlasting Father will never leave you.  He is your Prince who brings Peace in the midst of life's chaos.  Are you running to Him for comfort and peace?  

Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus.  He is able to take all my stresses, problems and life "stuff" on his shoulders.  Lord, may others rest in your care during this hard time.  Let them see You and glorify your name.  Thank you for your great love and support.  Amen.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Do You Hear What I Hear?


     You must admit there are lots of Christmas songs out there.  For over a month, the radio stations have been playing the same Christmas songs over and over and over.  Some good, some not so good.  I really don't care if I hear  "Grinch", or "Christmas Shoes" or "Here Comes Santy Claus" (and yes I spelled that correctly. It's the country version.) again this year.  
     This morning I was reading Mary's Song from Luke 1:46-55.  I don't know the tune, but here are the lyrics.

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has ben mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is His name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; 
He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

This is a song that I will never get tired of hearing.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

What Shall We Name the Baby?

     My mother tells the story of me playing house at about the age of 4 or 5 and requesting that she call me 'Cynthia'.  For some reason, I didn't like my name and wanted to change it.
     When naming our two children, it took us months of searching books, watching the credits roll and looking us names before we came up with Alison and Brian.  Maybe that is the reason both of them were late, they were waiting for us to come up with a name.
     Hundreds of years before the birth of the babe in Bethlehem, Isaiah already knew his name. "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14  
     Before his birth, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph and said what the babe's name would be. Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save his people from their sins." 
     Mary was told before she felt the first kick, what to call the baby within her. Luke 1:31 "You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." 
     The shepherds heard his name by the angel even before making their way to see this child.  Luke 2:11 "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord."
     What a name!  Like no other name. 
Immanuel.
God with us.  
Savior.
Messiah.
Christ.
Lord.
Jesus.
  The world needed to hear that name, not Cynthia or Pamela. There is something about His name.  Praise His Name!

Monday, December 20, 2010

All I Want for Christmas

All I want for Christmas
Yesterday, I asked a 6 year old boy what he wanted for Christmas.  His reply, "Everything in the catalog".  It brought back memories.  My brother and I would play a game every Christmas season.  As soon as the mail would arrive with the Sears & Roebuck catalog, we would sit next to each other on the couch with the wish book between us.  We would say "What do you want on this page?"  and go through the entire book, skipping the bras and underwear,  cause after all who wants bras and panties for christmas?  For the next few hours, we would decide what we wanted on each page before moving on and turning to the next page.  

What do you want for Christmas?  God always gives the best gifts.  He knew that we were in desperate need.  We need to be saved.  We need a Savior. 
  •  Luke 2:11 "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;"
What good news the angel brought!  The long awaited Savior has been born.  What great news for you and I.  The Savior is here.  Your wishing is over.  Accept God's Gift to you.

Praise God this morning for the great gift of a Savior that was born to the world.

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Perfect Recipe

  A true woman of God trusts her God and wants His Will over hers.

   Tim's aunt Mildred, now in her mid-80's, had an almond orchard.  I say "had" since it has been sold and now someone else"has" an almond orchard.  Every time we would visit Aunt Mildred's home, on her kitchen counter was almonds and a batch of her buttery English Toffee with almonds. For years, I have used her recipe to make the candy during the holiday season.  However it never quite tasted or looked just like hers. A few visits ago, I said, "Aunt Mil, let's make toffee."  We made the candy together. She stood over me, fine tuning my technique, monitoring the heat, watching for the right color and smell.  The end result- perfect toffee. 
   When the disciples of Jesus saw him pray, they said, "Teach us to pray."  Luke 11:2 records that Jesus said to them, "Father, hallowed be Thy name, your kingdom come.   Jesus didn't just give them the recipe for pray.  His whole life was a demonstration of this prayer.
"Father, hallowed be Thy name"-  Jesus worships God, His Father.  Our prayer begins with praise and worship to our Father in Heaven.  We approach His throne, knowing He is worth our worship.
"Your kingdom come."- Jesus acknowledges Allegiance to God's sovereign rule and reign. Our will must be submitted to His Lordship over our life.  He is LORD over our life and me are subject to Him. 
     Jesus lived his life with his mindset.  He went to his Father for guidance and strength.  He aligned himself under the Lordship of His Father, even going to his death on the cross.  Before that event, Jesus prayed in the garden, "Not my will, but yours be done."
    John, who saw the recipe lived out, wrote we have confidence in our prayer, as we submit to His will.
  • 1 John 5:14-15  "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him."
     Are you following the recipe for prayer? I don't mean in just reciting the words, but in living the example Jesus set.  When you do the end result is His perfect will. 

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Talking or Walking?

A true woman trusts God.
     For most of us, talking comes easy.  We love to hear our voice. "Let's go for coffee" really means "I want to talk".  Let's face it, we have coffee at home.  We have all heard that studies have shown that we like to say 10,000 more words in a day than men.  Which supports my theory women have more to say than men.  Words can come easy and are cheap.  We can say anything.  
     To say "I Trust God" or to sing the songs, "Only trust Him now" or "Trust and obey for there is no other way" may be easy to do when things look good and life is going well.  It may be a different story when you are faced with bad news, a large concern, a tough choice, a seemingly hopeless situation or the thing on your stress list.  Trusting God is more than just words or songs that we sing.  Trusting becomes a way of walking the walk
  • Hebrews 2:13 "I will put my trust in Him."
Trusting him is being anchored to Him.  It is complete dependance on God.  Not just in words, but in the way that you live your life.

Dear Father in Heaven;  Thank you that you are completely trustworthy.  I can and will trust You.  God, don't allow these to just be words for me today.  May I walk in this reality-I trust You.  During my tough times, help me trust you even more.  May I realize you are here and there is nothing that I go through that you are not going there with me.  I trust you.  In Jesus's name I pray, Amen

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Before My Eyes Were Open

     Have you had this same experience?  You wake up praying and thinking about people or problems and are already taking them to the Father in Heaven even before your eyes are open or your feet hit the floor. Your brain already knows the right thing to do.  It goes into autopilot. That was my morning. As I was thinking about it as I write, that is what God wants us to do- cast our cares on Him. 
     In her book "31 Days of Praise", Ruth Myers writes beautiful prayers all taken from the scripture.  This morning my mind went to one of the lines in one of her prayers, "You are too wise to ever make a mistake, too loving to ever do anything unkind."   How my mind and soul needed that truth today even before my eyes were open and my feet hit the floor! 

Here is the entire prayer:

     My heart rejoices in You, Lord, for You are my strong shelter in times of trouble and danger and stress, my hiding place to whom I may continually resort...my Father who lovingly provides for me...my Shepherd who guides and protects me...my Champion who upholds my cause as His child and defends my highest interests...my Bridegroom who delights in me...my God who is mighty to save, who rests in His love for me and rejoices over me with singing, with shouts of joy.  You are my inheritance, my share in life, the One who satisfies my longing soul and fills my hungry soul with goodness.
     I praise You for Your love and Your wisdom.  You are too wise to ever make a mistake, too loving to ever do anything unkind. You act on my behalf, accomplishing what concerns me and fulfilling Your purpose for me as I call on You.  Thank You that You love me deeply and tenderly.  You are compassionate and gracious, full of lovingkindness, ready to forgive, patiently considerate, and generous beyond imagining.  You desire my love and rejoice to do good things for me.  You delight to give me the desires of my heart as I delight myself in You.  How precious is Your love to me, O God! I sing for joy as I take refuge in the shadow of Your wings! 

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

This Moment

I was sitting at my computer, struggling to write today's thoughts.  I finally hit "delete" and decided to go back to the previous truth.  It just seems like there are so many of you that are in serious situations.  As I was praying for you, I just felt like revisiting our trust in God.

A true woman trusts God.
  • Isaiah 28:16 "So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:  "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed."
  • Hebrews 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
  • Hebrews 13:6 "So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."
  • Isaiah 26:3  "I will keep you in perfect peace, when your mind is stayed on me."         
She doesn't give in to fear, because she knows that God can be trusted.  He understands everything about her situation, and His good and loving plan will not be thwarted.
She leans on Him and depends on Him in times of joy, pain, hardship, uncertainty, and confusion.
She resists the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.
 
 Join me in prayer for Katie & Kelsey- to trust God while their father, Bill is in ICU with heart complications;  for Kirsten & Keely- to trust God while their mother, Jan undergoes surgery to remove a brain tumor tomorrow.

No matter what you are currently going through:  big or small; health or illness; rich or poor; peace or worry; relaxed or frazzled; up or down; You can put your trust in God!  Trusting God is not a one time thing that you do.  Trusting God is a moment by moment, second by second way that you choose to live your life.

Monday, December 13, 2010

On the Trail

A true woman says "yes, Lord"
She believes that God's purposes for creating male and female are good and wise.
  • Genesis 1:26-28a "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and creeping thing that creeps on the earth.  And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; man and female He created them.  And God blessed them;"
I enjoying going hiking.  I love being out in nature and seeing creation.  Because of where I live, Northern California, I am afforded this treat almost year round. (Mid-westerners- Don't be haters!) When Tim & I go on vacation, we pick a place we can hike. I often will stop in a middle of the trail to observe a slug slowly crossing in front of me, or a lizard doing push ups on a rock in the morning sun.  It is so interesting to see all the diversity in creation.  I marvel at the shapes, colors, and sizes.  I wonder what was in God's mind when He created so many insects, or all the different shades of green or the details on just one type of fish.    
God never does anything by accident or "just because".  He always has a reason and a purpose. He is all good.  He is all wise.  He has a special purpose when He created woman; when He created You. We will explore that together for the next few weeks.   
Today, stop in your tracks.  Thank God for creation;  for making you a woman; for Him being good and wise.  
Happy trails to you!

Friday, December 10, 2010

He Cares for You

A true woman trusts God.
She resists the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.
  • 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
Today's verse tells me what to do- Cast all my anxiety, cares, worries on Him. This verse tells me why to do that- Because He cares for me.

When we are under pressure, in a tough situation or faced with bad news, we are not quick to cast all our problems on the Lord.  Often times, we are quick to think that we are all alone.  We will believe the lie that God doesn't love us.  We start to think that He doesn't really care, or why would we be in this mess in the first place.

Peter reminds us of the Truth- God cares for You!  Believe the Truth not your feelings.  Because He cares for you, He wants your pressures, your tough situation, your bad news. Lay them all on Him. You can trust Him completely- He cares for you!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Know Peace or No Peace

A true woman trusts God.
She resists the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.
  • Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
  Why do you think it is so easy to worry?  Why does the evil one trip us up so fast with worry?  Paul lets us know that we miss out on the peace of God when we are worrying.  To be "anxious" is to be pulled in different directions. Isn't that what worry does?  It is hard to think straight because our mind is going in different directions.  Our mind is fast to run down a wrong road when we worry. Worry is counterproductive.  Warren Wiesbe said that in a "worry study" it was reported 92% of what we worry about never is true or comes about in our lives.   Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces in our Christian walk.  What does Paul say is the antidote to worry?  Thanksgiving and prayer. 
  • Instruction: Prayer, petition, thanksgiving.
  • Result:  Peace of God will guard your heart and mind.
  If I want the results, I must obey the instructions.

  "Why pray if you are going to worry?  Why worry if you are going to pray?"

Father in Heaven, Forgive us for worrying.  We say that we trust You, yet we are quick to let our hearts and minds become anxious.  We thank you that you are a loving, forgiving, gracious God.  You are supreme in all your ways.  We thank you that we are able to come to you with every need in our lives and that you hear us.  We thank you that there is nothing too difficult for you.  We thank you that we are blessed by you and every good thing comes from you. You are all wise and all knowing.  You are sovereign and rule over all the earth, yet you care for the smallest details in our lives.  We thank you for the peace that you bring into our lives...
  Continue in prayer and allow God's peace to guard your heart and mind

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

No Worries!

A true woman trusts God.
She resisted the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.
  • Isaiah 26:3 " You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have used and tested this verse.  I am for the most part not a worrier. A manipulator - Yes; a worrier- No- As I confessed yesterday. Part of the reason that I can say this is directly because of this verse.
  When I feel worry starting to take over my mind I put this verse into action.  Here is how;
  1.  I begin by staying this verse aloud. "God will keep me in perfect peace when my mind is stayed on Him."
  2.  I think about God.  I make my brain list everything I know about God.
  3.  To keep my mind stayed on God, I recite the alphabet and attach an attribute of God to each letter.  A-Almighty, B-Banner, C-Comforter, D-Deliver, etc.
  4.  My mind is worry-free and full of God.
  I know that my situation probably has not changed, but neither has the Truth about God.  My mind is steadfast and confident in Him.
Personalize this verse.  "God will keep her (your name) in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast, because she (your name) trusts in God."
  Take the challenge.  God will keep His promise.  And the results- No Worries!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Our Little Secret

A true woman trusts God.
She resists the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.

  • Psalm 16:8  "I have set the LORD always before me.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." 

When looking back on my life, I can't always say this verse has been my reality.  I have not always set the LORD before me.  As a young child, I learned how to try to get my way.  You know what I am talking about; crying at the right moment or being extra nice and helpful.  Then in High School, manipulating situations with really cute boys- like I "just happened" to be walking down the hallway as his class was getting out, or "just happened" to show up at the same pizza parlor.  Then in my marriage,  I know how to get my husband to say "yes" to my way.  (Let's keep that our little secret!)  I don't think I am alone.  I am sure you have had your manipulating moments as well.  So now, I am faced with the challenge to change years (for me 50+) of living one way to living God's way.  In trusting Him, I surrender to Him.  I abandon my ways to watch Him work in my behalf.  I rely and have confidence on God's character, abilities and strength.    And that way of living, need not be a secret!


Let me hear your little manipulating secret.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Finagle

A true woman trusts God.
She resists the temptation to worry and manipulate, because she has relinquished control to Him.
  • Psalm 145:14 "The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down."

Even as I typed the words "she resists the temptation to worry and manipulate" my mind raced to remind me of all the times that was not the reality in my own life.    This woman is quick to manipulate and try to finagle the situation.  While looking up the spelling of "finagle" the definition popped up.   
fi·na·gle/fəˈnāgəl/Verb
1. Obtain (something) by devious or dishonest means.
2. Act in a devious or dishonest manner: "they finagled over the fine points" 

Manipulate, finagle, devious, and dishonest are all words with a negative connotation.  All words that I don't want to associate with.  So what is the answer to this dilemma?
  • Psalm 145:14 "The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down."
The Word tells me how to live in an upright manner- by bowing down.  When I bow before the LORD and trust Him in every situation, He upholds me.  No finagling needed!

Friday, December 3, 2010

In the Middle


A true woman trusts God.
She leans on Him and depends on Him in times of joy, pain, hardship, uncertainty, and confusion.  
  • Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." 

Someone recently told me that they love Psalm 118:8 because it is the very center, from a verse perspective, of HIS book.  Trust in God Not in Man!  He said, "It gives me the opportunity to review the two great commandments, and that God loves us and expects us to love Him first and foremost. That is why its in the center of HIS book.  What would you expect to be in the center of HIS book?"

Are you trusting God today?  Are you finding refuge by running to Him?  Are you depending on Him?  Are you staying right in the middle of HIS book?  In this case it is good to be in the middle. 

p.s.  Invite others on this journey.  Pass on the blog site information to someone who could also use this information. They may be glad you did!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

ALL

A true woman trusts God.
She leans on Him and depends on Him in times of joy, pain, hardship, uncertainty, and confusion.
  • Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
    One little word changes everything. Those three little letters have a great impact. In my Bible, I always circle the word "All" because of the great significance the word has in the verse I am reading. In these verses we are told to trust with our all;  "All your heart" and "All your ways".  "All your heart" is your being, emotions, thinking, passion; the real you.  "All your ways" are your daily activities, your movements, your plans, your calendar; your life. He doesn't just want part of your heart or some of your ways.  He requires ALL.  Do you trust Him with your ALL?  
    Dear Heavenly Father;  I give you my ALL.  I trust you with all my heart, all my plans, all my life.  Let these not just be words I say in a prayer, but the actual way that I live my life.  Help me completely depend on you every moment of my day.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Shaken-period

A true woman trust God.
She leans on Him and depends on Him in times of joy, pain, hardship, uncertainty, and confusion.
  • Psalm 62:5-8 " Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depends on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in him at all times. O girlies (my addition); pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
While I was typing these verses out this morning, I noticed a few things.  Here they are:
  • "my hope comes from Him."  Not from any other source.  Then why do I look elsewhere?
  • "my honor depends on God."  God is able to handle my honor.  Then why do I think I have to do it or "what will people think"?
  • "I will not be shaken."  I was speaking the words as I typed.  "I-will-not-be-shaken-period".  It made me smile.  Nothing will shake me-period.  Then why do I allow my mind and heart to run away with emotions?
What words or phrases stand out for you?  Let God speak to you through His word.

Got to run.  Catching a flight to Warner Bro. Studios in LA for the scoring of the movie.  Oh, the Jet Set life that I lead!