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Friday, December 31, 2010

Have You Turned Off Your Christmas Lights?


Our family took down the Christmas tree on Wednesday afternoon. The ornaments,Christmas balls, beads, and the star tucked away in their appropriate containers. As I began to take down the lights, one strand at a time, I thought about how quickly that special day came and went. Everyone is now putting away their Christmas decorations and the Christmas lights are beginning to get unplugged.
I started to ponder the night the Angels came and told the Shepard boys the news of the savior's birth. How brilliant the night sky must of been! Beams of radiant lights shining forth from the Heavens! My imagination tells me God's face was beaming with joy because of the birth of His One and Only Son, and that is what caused the Heavens to declare His birth!
My mind then went to the fact that once the 25th of December has passed, many remember the Saviors birth no more until the following year. "I wonder what people would think if I left my Christmas lights on the whole year?" I thought to my self. How many of my friends would say,"Angie, you know Christmas is over. Don't you think it's time you take those lights down. They're becoming an eye sore." I am not suggesting that we leave our Christmas lights up all year long. At least not our outdoor lights...
I am suggesting, however, One light we need to keep on at all times. Our inner Christmas Light. The Light of the truth that Jesus came born in a manger, he grew in strength and wisdom and lived a SINLESS life and He became the PERFECT,BLAMELESS, sacrifice that God accepted for our sinful lives! That my friends is the TRUE Christmas Light we must never turn off!

John 8:12, "Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let youlight shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

God Bless us, everyone!

A few weeks ago our family sat down to watch the famous "A Christmas Carol" on television.
It is such a wonderful movie.
I began pondering in my heart the statement that Tiny Tim made,"God Bless us, everyone!" We often go to God in prayer and we ask Him to bless our families, our health, our finances, our friends and so on....
After quite some time I have come to realize, we should be blessing God instead! We should bless Him with our families, our health, our finances, our friends etc...Do you understand what I mean when I say we should bless God?
Giving Him all that we claim to be ours! Giving Him the reign over our lives! Giving Him honor and praise at ALL times!
No matter what we are experiencing in life, nothing is so bad that we can't find a way to bless God in our daily living!
Thank Him for the salvation we have in Christ Jesus! Thank Him for breath today! Thank Him for death of a loved one,a brother or sister in Christ, for they are completely healed and rejoicing in Heaven with our Sweet Jesus! Thank Him for the set backs! Thank Him for your children! Thank Him for your spouse! Thank Him for your home, even if its not the one you've dreamt about! Thank Him for the food He has provided! Thank Him for the clothes on your back! Thank Him for the bed you sleep on each night! Thank Him for the birds of the air, the snow on the trees, the wind as it blows through your hair! Give Him Praise!
There are so many things we can be thankful for! There are SO many ways we can bless God this CHRISTmas season!
Instead of praying for God to bless us, lets pray,"God how can I bless You today?"
How can I put a smile on Your sweet face?
Let today be different! Let's bless our Savior for all He has done! AMEN!

Bless God!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Have You Cried Out to Your Abba?


Galatians 4:6 "And because you are sons/daughters, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying,"Abba Father!"

Can you remember the last time you cried out to your Abba Father? Maybe you never have or maybe it happened so long ago, you can't remember when it was.

The phrase,"Abba Father", shows a deep emotional connection with God, through Jesus Christ. Our Abba Father, adopted us through Christ's suffering and ultimate death, when we, by faith, believed in Him. At that appointed time, God sent His Spirit into our hearts and we were able to cry out,"Abba Father!"

In Mark 14:36 Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, on His face weeping before His Father. He cried out,"Abba Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will but what you will."

I love that God wants to show His children a simple yet profound truth....Jesus, God's flesh and blood, went to His Abba in agony, asking for the cup of His suffering to be taken from Him. Yet His Abba Daddy knew that taking the cup from Jesus was not the best answer. Why? Jesus had to be the sacrifice made once and for ALL, so that we could be adopted into His family and become Heirs of Heaven. We are His children!

Jesus asked His Abba what His flesh desired. Then He said,"not what I will but what you will."

He accepted His Father's will even though His flesh wanted to give up. This tells me, even when my flesh is weak and wants to give up, I need to cry out to my Abba Daddy and ask for His will to be done, not my will.

Often times, as Christians, we let the lies from our enemy drag us down. I mean we will pray and ask specifically for something and when we don't get the answer we were looking for, we take it out on God. Some will even turn their backs on Him all together.

I believe the Spirit of God is teaching us to be as Christ. Out of obedience Christ followed His Abba Father's will, and VICTORY over death came! When we obey the will of our Abba, VICTORY is at hand! Amen!

So what is the Spirit of God saying to you? Maybe you have never cried out,"Abba Father!" out of fear of rejection. His Spirit is saying,"Forget the lies of the enemy! God will never reject the humble!"
Humble yourselves before your Abba Daddy, and let His love fill you with the peace of knowing, you belong to Him. You are His child, the apple of His eye! Nothing and no one can take that away from you!

His arms are wide open, waiting patiently for you to cry out,"ABBA FATHER, I need You!"

May your CHRISTmas be filled with His presence! AND may we Bless His Name this SEASON!