New Year's Resolution

It's the 1st Monday of 2011 and it's time to get started with my only new year's resolution. I am committing to memorize 2 verses a month for 2011 in an endeavor to hide God's word in my heart and meditate on Him more this year.

I am starting out by refreshing my memory on verses that pertain to the heart attitudes.

Verse # 1- Attitude # 1 Put the goals and interests of others above my own

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.

New Year is coming

I can't believe that Christmas is over for another year and we are facing New Year's again. This time of year always makes me reflective and I thought I would list out some of the things that happened this year!

1) We celebrated over a decade of marriage this year
2) Got a new sister in law that I love
3) Had a BABY!!!! Wow that still seems unreal
4) Have 3 new nephews in 6 months so our boys can all grow up together terrorizing each other, the animals and the rest of the cousins
5) God has grown our faith through some trials and travails but also renewed our energy and hope daily as he asks us to press on
6) Had work changes with having a child, that has been different to get used to but God has completely taken care of it and is helping me adjust
7) Have had to adjust to new extended family expectations with a child. That has been different but God is working on our selfishness

There are many more but I am extremely grateful to God for getting me through each and every day with His love and grace! The words from a hymn come to mind "To God be the glory, great things He has done".

Father, may I bring You more glory in 2011!

Christmas thought # 4

Christmas is Joyous

This morning as I was on my way to work, I was trying to get into the Christmas spirit by listening to some favorite tunes. All of the sudden I found myself worshipping the Lord with tears coming to my eyes as I really listened to the lyrics of the Christmas song. This isn't just a song we have all heard 1 million times! This event really happened to everyday people like you and me. God came down to us and what could be more joyous than that?

Luke 2:8-15 NIV
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Christmas thought # 3

Christmas is Eternal:
God reminded me of this very poignant point this morning in a real life experience.
Last night we got home late and it was dark. My husband was carrying the boy inside and I had the diaper bag and many other items I was hauling in behind him. Somehow my favorite sweater for my son fell out of the diaper bag and in range of the dogs in the back yard. I was completely unaware.
This morning, I looked out and saw the sweater in tatters with the dogs joyously playing tug of war with it! I remembered being awoken in the night to their loud rough housing (obviously destroying the sweater) and thinking they were having fun. But this morning when I realized that they destroyed something I liked, I was tempted to be angry and resentful. It wasn't their faults, they simply thought they had discovered a new toy. I was the one who lost it even though I didn't think I was being irresponsible. Who could I blame?
So I took my frustration to God (I know it is just a sweater) and He reminded me of some important lessons to remember, especially this time of year.
1) Everything is temporary- even things you try to hold on to, be careful with and watch out for. So don't hold on too tight!
2) Only God remains- all else is destroyed- even unintentionally.
3) Just when you think you are in control- you are reminded that you have no control.
4) Only God is in control so trust yourself to Him and let go of your attempts to be in charge.
AND
5) My son won't miss his sweater so I just need to laugh and move on!

Isaiah 26:4 NIV
Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

Thought # 2

Christmas is Epic:

Jesus came into the world in a humble human way just like you and me. Yet God's son was announced in a way no one else ever experienced!

An angel told of his coming to his mother and father, shepherds heard it announced in the heavens and went to worship him, wise men saw a star and came to lay kingly gifts at his feet. Only God could imagine this kind of contradiction for the coming of His perfect son.

How do you experience the coming of Jesus as a baby in your heart?

Thought of the day

What comes to mind when you think of Christmas?
I will be posting some fun thoughts this Christmas season to remind me of the significance of the season and to rejoice that the Savior has come!

Thought # 1:
Christmas is humbling.
Jesus Christ gave up his status and power to come down to earth and be born as a human baby, little, helpless, without strength or means. Just so you and I could have a chance for restoration of fellowship with God.
That would be like me becoming a gnat or something equally small to do something great.
How awesome is that?

Luke 2:6-7
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

Did John know Jesus???

I was in bible study this week and we were reviewing John the Baptist's ministry and how he came in to contact with Christ as the Messiah. I was amazed that when I slowed down and studied the verses carefully, I learned some new nuggets of truth. Here is the passage:

John 1:29-34
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.

1) John & Jesus were related but probably did not really know one another. John certainly didn't know Jesus was the Messiah until God revealed it to him.
2) When John was asked by Jesus to baptize him, John did, then God revealed Christ was the Messiah to John.
3) John was looking for a Messiah who would come in as King and political leader to restore Israel and remove the yoke of bondage to Rome just like the rest of the Jews. When Jesus came, he was not the Messiah that John expected.
4) John then went on to testify about Jesus to everyone because he knew that his role was to be that "voice in the desert crying out"

Amazing to realize that when you encounter the Messiah, even if you have been looking for him, he will not be as you expect but will change your world!

Come Thou Lord Jesus!!! Change my world!