Christmastime is a celebration of more than the birth of our Savior.  It celebrates the reason He came to earth.  It celebrates His birth within us.  It celebrates the love, joy and peace He promises one day on the earth.  Some celebrate Christmas but leave out the Christ; how can this be?

The Greatest Miracle Ever Foretold

The birth of Jesus is the greatest miracle ever foretold.
The young mother in her arms the Creator would hold.
The earth that was formed by His hand,
Would feel the footsteps of the Son of man.
His appearance caused the star to shine its light.
The angels rejoiced at the entrance of the Christ.
Mankind celebrates by offering gifts to one another.
Songs of joy and goodwill are by many discovered.
But so many do not truly perceive the miracle of love at work;
Or the miracle of His life on the earth.
Many do not experience the gift bestowed upon them;
For He gives all the chance to be reborn in Him.
To truly appreciate the Christmas story,
His birth should be celebrated in two ways to give Him glory.
One of course is the way most can see,
When in a stable the virgin God’s great gift received.
But the most important Christmas miracle is when He is born within you.
Then and only then will you hold the Creator too.

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

There was a day I made up my mind there was no turning back.  I indeed set my face and my heart to follow in the footsteps of the one I loved more than my life.  My heart is His and His heart is mine.

I Set My Face

With quiet determination I set my face,
As God’s promises are embraced.
My desire is to serve Him, all I am I give,
With all my heart I offer this life I live.
My thoughts I offer for Him to inspect,
As evil desires I willingly reject.
I know my motives are not always good or true,
But even them I open up to You.
The deep hurts and wounds within,
That causes bitterness to settle in.
I bring them to the Great Physician above,
To be revealed and healed by His love.
What have I to fear? My God is on my side.
I set my face, preparing to be His bride.
Faithful with robes white without stain.
I stand in confidence with Him safe I remain.
I purpose at this time to die to self-rule again,
As I set my face to live each moment for Him.

 Isaiah 50:7
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded:
therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

It is nice to hear a word of encouragement in a time of need.  But it is much more memorable when there is a practical effort to help in the need along with the encouraging words.  Our Lord will show us the practical ways to prove we care for others.  Lord help us to be sensitive to another’s trials and to be willing and able to assist, thus sharing Your love with them.

Practical Love

There are many practical ways to bless another
Practical, down to earth ways to serve others
When is the last time you have sent a card or a letter,
To express that you are praying for them to feel better?
Do you know someone that is much stressed,
Out of sorts with little time to rest?
Why not treat them to a dinner prepared for them,
To show your love and concern as their friend?
A child’s shoes out-gown or overused?
Lead them to a new pair choose.
Practical-love works; the ways are endless.
The profit from your labor is you too are blessed;
With smiles, praises, and blessings, too many to count,
Along with an addition to your heavenly bank account.
Visit those that love you and call those who miss your voice.
Make a social call the brethren so your hearts in tune rejoice.
Tell the lost about Jesus and also by your actions show,
The way God also touches in practical ways as He reaches out to save souls

Psalms 143:10
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Creation shouts God’s love.  Lord give us  eyes to see, ears to hear and
to be able to feel your love.

When Love Visits

When Love visits… the blind can see
Colors are brighter and life is fuller than it used to be
At the presence of Love even the atmosphere testifies it is near
The sour, bitter, and foul seems to almost disappear
Love visits in a kind word, it sinks deep within
The sound of love has power for healing to begin
Its echo will whisper loud reminders inside
In the place where pleasant memories abide
When love visits  in a touch
Songs of joy are lifted up
Remember the time when you were so alone and sad
When the kind touch was felt it did not seem quite as bad?
Remember the warmth that was felt?  How it reached down deep?
It was so wonderful[- the memory safe you keep
Love visits in countless ways if you will become aware
So many times to prove your God cares
Enjoy the flowers aroma, let it prove
That love visits and inside of you moves
A smile genuine, a song to inspire
The cozy feeling when warmed by the fire
The flight of the butterfly, the hum of the honey bee
The sparkle in the eyes of the young or in the elderly
A word of wisdom, a word of correction that’s kind
A word of encouragement that “All will be fine”
When love visits and you its presence see and hear
It will stay longer and longer – One day Love will never disappear
God is Love and He loves you so
He sends this word of rhyme so His love touches your soul

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

What Do we Thank God For?

What do we thank God for on this day set aside?
I thank Him that I am alive.
He is Life and the Way,
How could I not thank Him on this day?
I have a family and close friends,
I am counted as His and He is my greatest friend within.
We give thanks when a roof is over our head when the day is done,
When there is food on the table enough for everyone,
That we live in a Country still free to express
Our love for God and can His provisions confess.
Our arms raise in praise, with feet willing to follow after God’s Son,
When in thanks our eyes and ears are open to see and hear all He has done.
When we know Jesus and are able to comprehend His Word
We freely are able to express all we’ve heard.
We have a bright shining future promised for us to see.
We soon reside with a love that endures through eternity
I will give thanks to my Lord on this special day;
But I must remember on every day to sing His praise.
What have I to thank God for?
I could add to a forever list much, much more!

Psalms 30:4
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks
at the remembrance of his holiness.

I am sorry to say I have been a border-walker a time or two.   I seek always to stay way inside the fence now and I desire to be hot to the taste of my God.  It never is an appealing place to walk so close to to the edge of grace.

Border Walkers

Living on the edge, on the fringe of grace;
Showing to the world an acceptable face.
Walking on the border, but sometimes in fact,
Traveling a road that is way off track.
Doing some things known to be wrong;
But carefully  contrite for being where they do not belong.
Do you fool God?  Do you think you are in control?
Do you believe you can play with the world and still save your soul?
Masters are chosen, remember this is true,
When you walk the border – the flesh will choose.
Masters are chosen each and every day’
To serve self, or to the  Holy Spirit obey.
God’s love is more than you could ever comprehend.
Do not walk the border, come on in.
Come and commune with Me and I will fill you up anew.
Come and you will help other border walkers to come in too.
Come to your God you will become instead hot to taste;
For border walker are lukewarm and are a waste.

Revelation 3:14
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth

              Well my friends I just got back from vacation.  We attended a fun filled, heart touching, event packed destination wedding.   Then an additional time of our six different family units meeting and living together to spend time with those we love.  It is a special occasion provided and set aside because we do not get to enjoy  each other through out the year.  We have many  different ages and  life styles, committed to make new memories.  Memories were indeed made; late nights, games, laughter, and partying.  We  planned some events where it was difficult to get everyone together, ready, and on time but we always made it at the right time.  I love our family times together.  But I am sure all will agree we still need a vacation for the soul.

PRAYERS VACATION FOR THE SOUL

Wide open space… a vacation for the mind.
Clear as far ahead as you can see and all troubles left behind;
Like a day in the sun with a gentle breeze here and there.
Basking in Love’s light with the aroma of  tenderness that proves He cares.
A time where the heart is opened and the minds activity’s at rest,
Reveling in the realization of God’s presence and that you are His.
Lovely comforting moments of a life fulfilled,
Comforted by the sweet assurance you are in His will
Like the flutter of the wings of the butterfly,
Little bubbles of joy rise up inside.
Oh the sweetness of the quiet time of prayer.
When you know that you know your God cares.
Then like any time of vacation its time to go to work again.
Setting the heart and mind in motion to live your life for Him.
Lifting up another’s hurts, pains and needs.
Speaking out the truth for others to receive.
Reaching out and touching the one that does not know,
The great provision of prayer’s vacation for the soul.

 Psalms 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.

 Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

            We spend time and money to make our outside beautiful, It is a never ending job that truely gets harder and harder to obtain as time marches on.  Jesus paid a great price to make us beautiful within.  The closer we get to Him the more we begin to reflect His beauty.  When the inside is beautiful, the outside is inhansed as well.

Inner Beauty

Beauty shines from within
The soul that has been fully cleansed.
Gone is the stain that was so deep,
The vessel was ruined; of little value to keep.
A saved soul has a wonderful glow to it
It shines up into heaven, for God moves through it.
Sweet, pure waters flow from this place,
With the wonderful, refreshing mercy; provided in grace.
An acceptable sacrifice, more precious than gold.
A beautiful, treasure, the Father holds.
Made after the image of Jesus … formed by God’s hand,
A lovely bride for His Son; as He always planned.
Beautiful, are the feet of them, that share the Good News with others.
They shine as a finely cut diamond; offered to their soul’s lover.
Many people strive for earthly beauty, that fades as time passes by.
However, the loveliness of the saved soul, is never to be denied
For the eyes shine with new hope, and the heart is glad.
The future is  bright … circumstances have lost the hold they had
The light within them beckons, the lost to “Come and see
What the Lord has done, and salvation receive”
Love causes hearts to smile; with songs of praise to Jesus the Christ,
A most beautiful and lovely sight; that causes Him  great delight.

Romans 10:15
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things!

When I first started walking on the path of Jesus I wondered how I could ever glorify Him, for I knew all my shortcomings and inabilities.  But the longer I follow Him I realize I could never measure up if it was left to my own effort.  There is a Way; Jesus.  He is the plain path.  It the provision of the cross and His strength, and ability working in us that assures us we will arrive right on time.

Plain Path

You have set me on the path and clearly show the way.
You provide food and drink so my strength will stay.
You have shod my feet and clothed me to withstand what lies ahead.
Your presence walks before me and tells me there is no need to dread.
Your Word is my passport; no one can bar my stand.
And when there are adversaries I have right to the appointed land.
Your name is all authority and where You send I go.
There is no need to worry or fear for You are in control.
As I walk the plain path many will watch how I walk,
They observe my actions and reactions and listen to the way I talk.
When darkness comes Your source of light shines;
So I am able to assist another to the plain path find.
Together we walk Lord to the destination planned for me;
Where I will enter into Your presence for eternity.
Like a sweet reunion of lovers that never again part;
The redeemed enters the Kingdom of the Father’s heart;
Joined; forever with the One that died to save our soul,
Joined to Jesus, as His bride to have and to hold.
Oh sweet goal that lies ahead for me,
With Your help I will be able to walk the plain path successfully.

Psalms 27:11
Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.