"I Want A Different Christmas"-#5

                                                                Christ In Christmas

Christ, the only begotten Son of God, looked upon the sinful world
    and realized its need for
Help. In counsel with the Father it was agreed that He would give up His high and exalted place        and bring to sinful men
Redemption. He would go to earth in person and through
    the miracle of birth would become the
Incarnation of God in human flesh. He would be born of a virgin
    with God as His Father, and enter into the sinful world as its
Savior. His holiness, His sexemplary life, His sinlessness, His plan of redemption, His death, and        His resurrection would bring to earth the great
Transformation needed by all mankind. So He came, as decided
   in the councils of eternity, and through His coming He brought the
Melody of heaven to earth. A Babe in swaddlling clothes, divine,
   whose birth was announced by the singing of angels on high, was to bring
Assurance to all mankind that God cared enough to send His only begotten Son that all who believe    in Him might have
Salvation and eternal life. Only through personal acceptance of Him, God's great gift to man, can    there be real Christmas in the human heart.
                                                                                               -Copied

"I Want A Different Christmas"-#4

Devotional Readings

Along with rereading the different portions of Scripture that tell the never-grow-old accounts of the true story of Christmas, I enhanced my devotional times by reading 2 or 3 other books. These are two books that I was able to read last year:

The Miracle of Christmas by John MacArthur
Quiet Moments For The Season from RBC Ministries
 

I also searched online for other articles/devotionals that centered around Christmas, readings that focused on the spiritual, not the secular, which is, after all, the true picture of the Christmas story, a real story with true spiritual value for each one of us.

The Lord blessed me with lots of alone and unhurried time time together with Him. It may be that I will never again repeat such a Christmas so I am truly         thankful for my unique Christmas of 2013.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:13)

I Want A Different Christmas-#3

"TO SEE CHRISTMAS"

Matthew 2:2

"...for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him."..."

Matthew 2:9

"...and, lo, the star which they saw in the east went before them, 

till it came and stood over where the young child was."

Matthew 2:10

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."

Matthew 2:11

"...they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped Him..."

Luke 1:29

"And when she saw him (Gabriel) she was troubled..."

Luke 2:15
"Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass..."

Luke 2:17
"And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying
which was told them concerning this child."

Luke 2:20
"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things that they had heard and seen..."

Luke 2:26
"And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death
before he had seen the Lord's Christ."

Luke 2:30
"For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:20)

"I Want A Different Christmas" #2

A Christmas without children is pretty quiet, lonely and, yes, sad. Not that one can't celebrate Christ's birth without them, it's just that they bring such sparkle, laughter and...JOY! But not everyone can have that opportunity and, certainly, not every year so last year was my first experience without them.
However, I do have a few photos to remember some wonderful Christmas pasts...

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...(Isaiah 9:6a)

Songs In The Night

One of the most beautiful and joyful sounds is that of the birds as they sing...while it is still dark, before the dawn. It is always ALWAYS a reminder to me that I can-and should-do that, too. I don't have to have everything positive, warm and sunshiney in my life to have a joyful heart, to praise the Lord, to give thanks to my Creator and Friend. I can do it in the dark, in the night, in the low times of my life.

Suddenly, night becomes day, dark becomes light, pain becomes joy when I lift my heart and soul to Him and give praise to Him. He loves me, He saved me, He provides for every need that I have. How can I help but praise Him?!


 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (Psalm 77:6)

"I Want A Different Christmas" #1

I am going to do several posts over the next few weeks about Christmas. But it will be about last Christmas because, well, it was different. That's what I wanted.

I've experienced many wonderful "Christmas Pasts". Most of them were when either I was a child or our children were still with us here at home. But last year was our first year without any of our children with us so I decided to take advantage of that and try to have a different one. A more spiritual one, if you please.

As the season went by I made a list of reasons why it was different or "requirements" to make it that way and it ended up being the following:
  *No children at home.
  *No responsibilities at church such as planning or helping with the Christmas program.
  *No Christmas tree (Actually I was quite relieved to not have to put that up!) and minimal
    Christmas decoration.
  *Take a month's break from FB. (Definitely!)
  *Minimal Christmas shopping.
  *No visits to malls or the "big" downtown. Stay away from the hustle, noise and stress of the
    commercial and secular Christmas.          
  *Ask random people, "What does Christmas mean to you?"
  *Give several Christmas tracts.
  *Hunt for old and new Christmas music, preferably those which I had never heard.
  *No (or minimal) listening to secular Christmas music.
  *Concentrate on THE Christmas story, spend unhurried time thinking about the details of that.
  *Regular and frequent Christmas devotional readings.
  *Make "Christmas bread" to give to neighbors.

As I began the Christmas season, basically the month of December, I looked forward with anticipation to what the Lord had in store for me!

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Sadness And Joy

     In honor and memory

 of a great-nephew of mine,

I am posting this music and pictures.

I am so grateful that he is in 

a safe and loving place...with Jesus.

To his family, 

my heart aches with and prays for you.

Let the Lord and His Word

 be your comfort.

And He took the children in His arms,

 placed His hands on them and blessed them.(Mark 10:16)

Suffer little children to come unto Me and forbid them not,

for of such is the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:16)

Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven 

that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:14)

I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:23)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our afflictions so that

we will be able to comfort those who are in any afflictions

with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance,
so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

(2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

To those who would like to donate to the care of Scotty's 6-yr-old brother, Ryan,

please go to the link at the top right of this page.  You may also 

To those who would like to join the efforts to increase awareness of child abuse,

go to this page and sign up to light your candle!

Credits

Video: YouTube

Paintings: Internet

Scotty photo: C.Conner

These Forty Years

(I wrote this post a few months ago and only now did I notice that I didn't publish it. Wouldn't want to waste my efforts...so here it is!)

On July 26th my husband and I completed 40 years of marriage. The following verse just seems to perfectly describe our journey together!


"For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing." (Deuteronomy 2:7)


I don't normally post anything of a personal nature (especially photos) but since part of the world has already seen this on Youtube and since not many people will see this blog, I am going to go ahead and share this little video which I made for my husband and then shared with our children. You know how it is, good news deserves to be shared with as many as possible!

LOVE CAME FOR ME

A beautiful and touching song...as we get close to beginning the Christmas season.

A Song In My Mouth

God's blessings are many these days, I can't help but praise Him! That doesn't mean everything is perfect, of course. After all, we ARE living on planet earth, right? But His love, presence, promises and blessings are just too overwhelming to not stop for a minute and give some "on purpose" praise and thanks to Him from whom ALL blessings flow!

Be Still My Soul

Are there times in your life when things seem a bit uncertain? scary? unsteady? negatively unreal?These are the times when our focus needs to be on Him. That sounds like a classic cliché...but it's true.

On the other hand, our focus should always be on Him, not just during uncertain times. That way, things won't catch us so much off-guard. We might be unsteady for a moment or even for a day but His peace comes to us when we trust Him and realize that not only the events of the world but also the moments of our lives are under His control.

So...Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side!

The Beauty of Broken Things

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. (Luke 4:18)

Forgiveness Is For Giving

A million things could be said about forgiveness. So often I think about this, wondering why it is so difficult for some people to do and how some can go through life with the misery of unforgiveness toward others. Amazingly, we want to receive from others the very thing we aren't willing to give! We need to consider more the strong and startling truth of this verse, words from the Lord Jesus Christ:

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV)

This Is My Father's World

Today (2nd Sunday in August) is Father's Day here in Brazil. I often forget the American date of the 3rd Sunday in June so I always get a second chance. Of course, my husband likes that, he uses it to say that it should be celebrated two times. Ah yes, it really should!

Fathers are important. That's quite the understatement, is it not? I think of my wonderful Dad so often.

VERY often. I think it's a common thing to happen that people only begin to realize how much they love someone AFTER they've gone. How often I have desired to have him here to ask for advice or get his opinion. Oh, what a gentle and wise man he was. And strong. Strong in every sense of the word. Because of his strength my world was safe and secure. I never doubted that he could care for and love me as a father should. Oh, that I could have conveyed to him how much I admired and valued him!

(The first picture I ever took of my Dad which was
 also the first one I took with my very first camera,
a Kodak Instamatic.)

My concept of my heavenly Father is enhanced because of my earthly one. I realize that many people don't have that privilege and blessing and, therefore, have difficulties in that area. It is my desire and prayer that you just take His Word for what it says and believe it. He loves you, He cares for you, He desires a relationship with you that is unlike, yes far above, any earthly relationship could possibly be.  Fall into His loving arms, hear the beat of His loving heart and listen to His loving words that are meant just for you.

My world is planned, controlled, cared for and blessed by my heavenly Father. He reminds me of that every day, many times a day. The new day, the rising sun, the birds, the flowers...every detail of His creation is meant to charm us, to woo us, to draw us to Himself.

        As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in My love.  (John 15:9)

We Need You, Lord

In our world full of wickedness and war where God's enemies seem to be having their heyday, we need the promises and comforts of His Word to us. We must remember that He knows all that is happening and that nothing is beyond His control. Now is the time to peacefully lean on His loving heart. He is the One whose eyes and ears are ever pointed in the direction of His children. He is the One with whom we are safe...no matter what the enemy may do.

As you look at the moon tonight, or even if you don't, remember some of the many promises from His Word. Here is a small portion of Scripture for your meditation, I pray that it is as much of a blessing to you as it was to me.

His Mercies

Every morning that I sit here in my corner by the window, I am reminded of the Lord's mercies to me. They are new every morning as the prophet Jeremiah said (Lamentations 3:23). Isn't that just the truth? We have a new day with new opportunities for the many facets of life, we're still breathing and moving around (a little slower sometimes but, yes, I can still put one foot in front of the other. That's good, I say.), the sun's shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming...

Some days have more of these things than other days, of course. But they are outstanding reminders of His love, mercy and grace to us. Reminders of His gifts! So many of them! Stop and list them, you'll be amazed and grateful, you'll be blessed.

I Am My Mother's Daughter

For several days now my husband and I have been watching a documentary called "Irish Immigration: Long Journey Home". It has been extremely interesting and informative. I now look at potatoes through different eyes (*smile*) and terms like "fight like the Irish" have clearer meaning. It was also emotional for me at times. I have this sensation that I'm watching my own history and seeing the faces of my ancestors...my blood kin. My father was Scotch-Irish, my mother Dutch-Irish so the largest part of my blood is from that Emerald Isle.

As I think of my ancestry on this Mother's Day, of who they were, where I came from, who my parents are and who I am today, I am Amazed and Grateful for the Lord's planning and working in my life. I know that nothing has happened by chance and that He has orchestrated all these details together to bring me where I am and to make me what I am today.  But He's not finished, He's still working on me.

Thank You, Lord, for making me my mother's daughter!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

A Time For Every Thing

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-14)

His Coming

My husband has been talking and preaching more these days about Christ's imminent return. 

The "signs of the times" are many and interesting, we would be foolish to think that we don't need to "stablish our hearts" and be ready for it.

 Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:8)

A Simple Letter

We received this letter a few days ago. It made me smile and warmed my heart. I wonder who the lucky kid will be??

A Fresh Start

(For those who would like to see the former blog, please click here.)

Instead of trying to explain all of the "why" of making a fresh start with my blog, let me just say that I was too frustrated with the old one, with the techie part, it just wasn't working right on the other whatever-it-is thingie. But there I go, thinking I need to explain...

I've missed being here to share my blessings and post my photos. Apparently, you, my dear readers, did not totally give up on me for the stats show that visitors are still coming around. I'd better get on the ball, don't you think?


So, for now, I leave you with this pink rose. I know, I know, so boring...but SO beautiful, yes? This is actually an old photo that I hurriedly picked out just for doing this first fresh-start post. It was taken on a street two blocks from my house. Doesn't the hot pink look startlingly gorgeous against the rough, gray wall?

Do check back in within the next very few days. I promise it won't be two months this time! Unless Mr Goo...pulls a fast one on me, too.

That I may come unto you 

with joy by the will of God,

and may with you

be refreshed.

Now the God of peace

be with you all.

Amen.

(Romans 15:32-33)