"she pondered them in her heart"

This CHRISTmas season has been a great one! God has given me so many reminders of what really matters this CHRISTmas. It's not what I can get, what I can buy, who is getting the most, Santa coming.........it's about CHRIST! It's the time of year we celebrate the coming of our Saviour and Messiah. 

In reading the CHRISTmas story, I stopped to reflect on one passage in particular in the scripture. "but Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19

I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder how she heard Messiah was coming? That she would be his mother? How it could happen? How kind the shepherds were? What a big star? I wonder what she pondered that wonderful, holy night.

When Jesus was 33 He was beaten beyond recognition, mocked, cursed, spit on,....and died. I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder back to that wonderful, holy night? Did she know this was God's perfect plan? Did she believe he would live again?

3 days later....Jesus Arose! I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder back to that wonderful, holy night? Did she wonder if she was imagining things? Did she know He had redeemed her? Did she know this was God's perfect plan?

Jesus ascended to the Father. I wonder what Mary pondered? Did she ponder back to that wonderul, holy night? Did she wonder if she would see Him again? Did she know this was God's perfect plan?

I wonder what Mary pondered? 

Are we pondering on CHRIST this CHRISTmas?

I encourage you to take a few moments and reflect on the amazing love of God. The I AM, the Ancient of Days left beauty we can't imagine to come here to die! Why? For us! 

Imagine the King of Kings came here and laid His holy, beautiful head in a feeding trough for animals! Why? For us because He loves us more than we can understand! 

Reflect on CHRIST this CHRISTmas! 

Marveling at God

What do we find ourselves marveling at? I marveled at the ability of Michael Phelps in the Olympics, I marvel at how smart my children are, I marvel at the process of child birth, I marvel at the AWESOME voice of Neil Diamond (yes, shocking as it seems, I am a fan of the jazz singer). These people have all in some way caused me to sit back and say WOW! I can openly, as well as many others, express my "marvel" at these people. How many times do we sit and marvel at the Father? How many times do we openly display that "marvel"? 

In the past three days, I have had the privilege of marveling at my Father. Two times through His amazing creation. Friday evening, I went outside and the moon was so close to the earth you could almost touch it. It gave off the brightest light! It was an awesome sight. Then Saturday evening, the moon had a ring around it! It was amazing just to look at the moon as see a perfect ring around it! Who else but the Powerful Creator could do something like that!?!

I was led to the creation story. What a wonderful account of how God put everything in motion, set up perfect for human's to inhabit, created life, and the most important.....knowing man would fall and the perfect sacrifice would have to be made......and He did it anyway! 

The son was there during creation. He knew too that He would be the sacrifice.....and He did it anyway! 

How unworthy I am of this sacrifice!

During this season that we celebrate the event of the Messiah coming, I have to pause and marvel at what a loving, unselfish, sacrificial, perfect Father I love and serve! I also marvel at the grace and mercy freely shown to me!   

In Revelation 15:3 the Word says "Great and Marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the Nations!" 

Wonderful Father, thank you for the ability to see and marvel at Your creation. Thank you for looking through time and knowing I need You. Thank You for coming. Thank You for being willing to die. Thank You for living. Thank You for loving. Thank You for Salvation. Thank You for rescueing me! Thank You that You are coming again!!

What Matters

It has been quiet a while since I did any blogging. My excuse.............just lazy!!

Over the last few days I have spent some time, to much time, feeling down over life issues. Then my Father in his loving way guides me back to what really matters. I have been reflecting on "what matters". 3 different ways God has spoken on this in just the last 3 days showing me "what matters".

Way 1- The question was asked to me "do you really think God wants His children to struggle"
Answer- Count it pure joy when you face trials of many kind, they are a perfecting of your faith!

Way 2- In talking with my son, I was reminded of just how personal and important a relationship with God is.
Answer- Keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking!

Way 3- In reading a fellow bloggers post, I was reminded of being Mary in a Martha world.
Answer- Sit at the most beautiful, worthy feet EVER. Sit and rest, learn, and be loved!

I feel so unworthy to be called His. I struggle and continue to fail and He continues to love me. I am so very unworthy of that love and so very thankful for that love. My Father bent down low, whispered sweet, raised me up, restored me, forgave me, and loves me! How awesome is He!
In reflecting on "what matters" I was led to the scripture in Matthew 6:33. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be provided for you". This tells me clearly SEEK my Father. Seek His guidance in every circumstance. Stop looking at the waves and just look to Him to keep walking on the water!!! My prayer is that I will do this. That I will seek Him. That I will not look at the waves.

During this season, I tend to focus on what gifts to buy. What gifts I haven't bought. More commercial that Christ! I am thankful today for God's wonderful reminders to me of "what matters". His will matters, His direction matters, His love matters, His deliverance matters, His forgiveness matters, His teaching matters, His speaking matters, telling others about Him matters.......................HE MATTERS!!!!


God forgive me for focusing on the things that matter least and not focusing on what matters most! Thank you for meeting me where I am and teaching me. Thank you for reminders!! Thank you for being Jehovah Jireh! Thank you.......................

Obligation or Love?

Have you ever received a gift out of obligation? Not the same as receiving it out of love is it? Wouldn't you say that doing something, receiving something, or giving something out of love is better than out of obligation? I recently had to look at forgiveness in these terms. Sometimes as Christians, we go and do what we are supposed to, kicking and screaming! We smile because we have to, we make a joyful noise because we have to, we say forgive me because we have to, we say I forgive you because we have to.

When we forgive someone out of obligation, have we truly forgiven? I believe that forgiveness out of obligation is not true forgiveness. In Philemon we can see a picture of forgiveness. We dont know all the details of what this man had done to Philemon. We do know that Paul sends him back to Philemon and asks Philemon to forgive him; not out of obligation but out of love. In verse 9, it says "I appeal to you on the basis of love" and in verse 14(b) it says "so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will". If we forgive because we are obligated we havent given true forgiveness. If we are forgiven out of obligation, we havent been given true forgiveness.

In the final verses of Philemon, Paul writes and tells them to prepare him a guest room. This indicates he is coming for a visit. Jesus IS COMING! What will He find us doing? Loving because we have been loved or going through the motions because were obligated?

God forgave us because of LOVE. Shouldn't we forgive each other out of LOVE, just like what we were shown?

Wonderful Father thank You for loving me. Help me to love others the way you love them and see them the way You do. Give me courage to ask for forgiveness, give me grace to offer forgiveness, and comfort when rejected. There is no one who gives like You. I love you because You loved me first. There is nothing good in me. Everything good comes from You Father. I am because You are.

First Fruits

What do you think of when you hear the word "first fruits"? I always think of harvest time. People will gather the fruit and first is always the best. I love to eat just ripe peaches. I eat them fuzz and all! Same thing with cantalope and watermelon (but I dont eat the rind!). I ask myself why do I enjoy the fruit so much? Its how sweet it taste! If it wasn't sweet to taste, I would not want it. Offering and sacrifice is the same way with God. All through the Old Testament, people had to bring a sacrifice to atone for their sin. God ask for the first fruit; the best. In the story of Cain and Abel, God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's. Why did He reject? It wasnt the first fruit; the best.

When God sent the sacrifice that would atone for ALL sin, He sent His first fruit; the best. He sent Jesus. Isn't it amazing that God would send us the best and so many times we give Him second best. Can you think of anyone who deserves our best more than Him? Can you think of anyone who is more worthy of our praise? I can't.

In James 1:18 it says "By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the first fruits of His creatures". Wow! God gives us new birth and makes us the first fruits of His creatures. He makes us His best!! He really is sweet and beyond understanding. God gives the sweetest gifts; love, comfort, defense, wisdom, forgiveness, grace, mercy, every need met. I am so unworthy of His best but He gives it anyway. Shouldn't I give my best?

Almighty Great Father You are so good. You are pure and holy and deserve the best. Keep my ways righteous and holy before You Father. May my sacrifice and praise be a pleasing aroma to Your nostrils and pleasant to Your ears. Search my heart and show me any sin that needs to be confessed. Keep me close to You and protected. I love you so much. Thank You for giving me Your best.

Fruit Bearing Seed

I recently had the privilege of being by God's beautiful ocean. It is one of my favorite places to be. In spending time with my Father, I was reading in Genesis. I love the creation story! In the book of Genesis I was drawn to one verse of scripture in particular. In Genesis 1:11 God says "Let the earth produce vegetation; seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds."

Bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. That particular part of the scripture I could not stop reading or thinking about. Then God spoke.

Think about eating a peach. When you eat the peach, you find a peach seed.....not apple. When you eat an orange you find orange seed.........not grape. Thats how it is with us too. If we are children of God, He now lives in us. We should bear the fruit of Him; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. I had to ask myself a serious question. Is the fruit I am bearing according to my kind? When people look at me do they see the work of the Lord or the work of the enemy? My fruit answers the question!

When people look at you, do they see the fruit of the Lord or the fruit of the enemy?


Holy God grow me and help me to produce fruit that is of You. Give me understanding to learn more about Your fruit. Give me grace to endure pruning and growing. Thank you for being the Master who teaches me. Thank you for creating all I see. Thank you for the fruit trees You made that I enjoy and learn from. Thank you for just being Lord!!

Promises

As i sit here and type this blog, my mind has been reflecting on my daughter for the last 2 days. She is living out of our home and I miss her. I have been going over all the "what if's" and "what did I do wrong's". Then, as always, my heavenly Father comes to me and says, "dont focus on you. Look to Me".

God says in Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted." Isn't that wonderful to know that when we mourn God himself comforts us. What mourning?
Mourning the death of a loved one.........yes
Mourning an absent child.........................yes
These are both times of mourning that God gives comfort in, but the most important type of mourning is mourning for our sin. God has given me comfort today in mourning the absence of my daughter and mourning being selfish. Isn't He great!! Isn't He sweet!!

In giving comfort, God reminded me of His promises. They never fail! We can look at the story of Abraham and see that God keeps His promises. We may not know when and it may even take a very long time, but God is Faithful. In Proverbs 22:6, God says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it". How very comforting to know that if we have brought our children up in the Lord, that they will not depart from it. Now this may be when they are very old or it may be when they are still young. The point is God promised it, He said it, so it's done!! How amazing is our God!

Almighty Father, You are faithful and merciful. You give comfort and peace that is indescribable. You are my refuge and I love to hide in Your shadow. Protect my child. Watch her and draw her back to you. Thank you for Your promise to do that. Thank you that You love me enough to show me where I have been wrong and thank you for the forgiveness you freely give. I love you deeply and more every day.

Better is One Day (7/20/08)

We sing the chorus; the message:........................be intimate with God and listen to Him

A woman is asked to share; the message:........... be intimate with God and listen to Him
The soloist sings; the message: .............................be intimate with God and listen to Him
The pastor speaks; the message: ..........................be intimate with God and listen to Him

When was the chorus planned?................................two weeks ago
When was the soloist song planned?........................two weeks ago
When was the pastors message planned?...............two weeks ago

Who planned it all? ..........................................GOD!

One day watching my Father work out details......"for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand."
One day listening to my Father speak.........."for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand."
One day singing to my Father........................"for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand."
One day just enjoying His presence................"for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand."

All praise and adoration are Yours my Holy Father. You are Almighty God and there is NONE like You! You alone are God and You alone take care of everything. I stand amazed in the presence of You!!!!!!!!!

Is and Will

Is and Will. Two little words. My Heavenly Father used these little words to settle my spirit and restore me to joy. I was reflecting on Zephaniah 3:5 and 3:15-17. God says in verse 5, "the Lord is righteous, He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail." In having a need for peace and restoration when I have been hurt, this verse brought me comfort. I cant see when His justice will come but I know it will because HE DOES NOT FAIL!!
In verse 15 God says "the Lord has taken away His judgements against you, He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you will fear disaster no more" Oh how wonderful to know that God has taken the judgement I deserve away from me through the blood of the One Holy Lamb. I am so thankful that when my Father looks at me, He sees red. In verse 16 God says "Do not be afraid, Do not let your hands fall limp". Even through the heartbreak, the lies, the separation, I can fear not. In verse 17 (and by far my favorite), God says "the Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will sing over you with shouts of joy." I think back to when my youngest son was a baby. He was sick a lot and I can remember holding him close to me and singing to help him quiet down. Thats how I see my Father holding me. It is hard to understand why Amazing God would want to sing over me, but I am so grateful He does. He has quieted me and reminded me of His love, grace, forgiveness, and that He is all powerful! Thank you Righteous, Victorious Father!!!

I Will.........

When asking someone to do something for you, most of us want the response..........I will. Two simple little words that have a lot of meaning. I will.
I ask my Heavenly Father will you always be my friend?......................I will
Will you help me through this day?..............................I will
Will you take this burden from me?.............................I will
Will you help me love people the way you do and see them they way You do?.............I will
I am so thankful to have Him in my life and to know he always will, because He is the I AM.
During recent days I was comforted in His word by the simple statement of I will. When the world is spinning out of control, and everywhere you turn you get a punch, you think will these people ever know? Will this storm ever end? Will they ever understand they are wrong?
God says in His word in Obadiah 1:4, "Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I WILL bring you down, declares the Lord.
There is no where we can go to hide.

Rightous Father, help me never to soar so high with wrong thinking and unholy choices. Help me never to soar so high with right thinking that I become arrogant. Give me the grace needed to continue through the storm, no matter how high the waves get. Search my heart and teach me Your ways. Give me courage to speak and courage to be silent. Help me to remember that no where is to high for you.

What do I do?

Anger. Just the word makes your blood start pumping. I have found myself asking my heavenly Father: 1. Is it okay to be angry? 2. What do I do? 3. Will you take care of it........please? So far the answers I have gotten are not exactly what I wanted, but, who said it was about me. Question 1. yes, however, Be angry and do not sin. Dont let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesian 4:26).
Question 2. nothing until I say so and until I tell you what to do.
Question 3. I will take care of YOU, I will settle the issues that YOU have and you will have to trust Me.
Now, knowing all this, I mean really knowing it, why do I still want to do the opposite? It's a war within my mind. (Romans 7:21-23) Oh how dangerous when passion and emotion are in the way. When you really just want to tell everyone for the purpose of vindication.

Oh my Almighty Father, please help me not to act in my own way. Remove my selfish desires. Give me the grace I need to do what is pleasing in your eyes and brings honor to your name, rather than pleasing others. Pour down on me Father!!