My dear reader,

            About 40 years ago I went to bed unsuspecting my life would be forever changed.  Previously I had asked Jesus into my heart and was amazed at the weight lifted from my life.

Although I began to pray, read the bible and earnestly tried to live for Jesus, I learned on that fateful night and many times thereafter; God desired to talk to me. While asleep I heard as loud as any voice, “God is Love and Jesus is forgiveness.” Immediately I woke my husband and excitedly blurted the good news that God just told me. He looked at me like I had just gone nuts.

            Every night I heard a few sentences and I would attempt to remember so I could record in my journal when I woke up.  The message always rhymed and began to get longer and more difficult to remember.  I would ask God to bring the needed words to my mind to write them down.

            God was training me to listen.  The poetry always ministered to my seeking heart.  I checked each day to make sure it aligned with his Word.  Early on I felt I was supposed to share them with my brothers and sisters in Church.  With fear and trembling I began to give them to everyone I could.  It is my joy to touch you with the poetry he has given me to share with you.

            He loves us so much.  Creation shouts his love; he paints the sky different each day, and each day a flower blooms his love. The Spirit of love is always visible to those who seek.  God sent us his greatest proof of love when he sent his Son to earth to die for our sins.  He was born of a virgin, in a stable; to grow not as the King he is but as an everyday, down to earth person.  He came for all that needed a Savior.   

            Christmas-time is giving time.  We rush to get our loved ones special gifts to show our love and appreciation.  Jesus is the reason for the season.  When we celebrate in honor his birth He is glorified. 

            If you find it difficult to join the celebrations, and joy has fled from your day; truly listen to the anointed music reminding of his birth. He speaks hope, peace, and love in every breath we take. As we allow his love to enter our heart we will never again be the same.

            As I finish my note to you my readers, sisters, brothers, and neighbors I leave with one last thought.  Love speaks to us in countless ways. Even in a word of rhyme.

 Have a Merry Christmas 

   
  We celebrate Jesus, his love and his birth;

  As we again marvel how the creator chose to come to earth.

  He was born of a virgin as was foreordained; 

  Witnessed by a star his holy entrance proclaimed.

  Angels sang of God’s purpose to those who would hear,

  Shepherds and wise men bowed as they drew near.

  We give gifts to others to celebrate God’s greatest gift bestowed.

  He is the greatest gift our hearts can hold.

  When we share Him we share life,

  When we share him we share light.

  He is the bread that nourishes our soul.

  He is the one that makes lost found and the empty full and whole.

  When we celebrate Christmas we honor Him.

  So again I say, Merry Christmas let our celebrations begin.
   
   
   \

My dear reader,

            About 40 years ago I went to bed unsuspecting my life would be forever changed.  Previously I had asked Jesus into my heart and was amazed at the weight lifted from my life.

Although I began to pray, read the bible and earnestly tried to live for Jesus, I learned on that fateful night and many times thereafter; God desired to talk to me. While asleep I heard as loud as any voice, “God is Love and Jesus is forgiveness.” Immediately I woke my husband and excitedly blurted the good news that God just told me. He looked at me like I had just gone nuts.

            Every night I heard a few sentences and I would attempt to remember so I could record in my journal when I woke up.  The message always rhymed and began to get longer and more difficult to remember.  I would ask God to bring the needed words to my mind to write them down.

            God was training me to listen.  The poetry always ministered to my seeking heart.  I checked each day to make sure it aligned with his Word.  Early on I felt I was supposed to share them with my brothers and sisters in Church.  With fear and trembling I began to give them to everyone I could.  It is my joy to touch you with the poetry he has given me to share with you.

            He loves us so much.  Creation shouts his love; he paints the sky different each day, and each day a flower blooms his love. The Spirit of love is always visible to those who seek.  God sent us his greatest proof of love when he sent his Son to earth to die for our sins.  He was born of a virgin, in a stable; to grow not as the King he is but as an everyday, down to earth person.  He came for all that needed a Savior.   

            Christmas-time is giving time.  We rush to get our loved ones special gifts to show our love and appreciation.  Jesus is the reason for the season.  When we celebrate in honor his birth He is glorified. 

            If you find it difficult to join the celebrations, and joy has fled from your day; truly listen to the anointed music reminding of his birth. He speaks hope, peace, and love in every breath we take. As we allow his love to enter our heart we will never again be the same.

            As I finish my note to you my readers, sisters, brothers, and neighbors I leave with one last thought.  Love speaks to us in countless ways. Even in a word of rhyme.

Have a Merry Christmas
  
 We celebrate Jesus, his love and his birth;
 As we again marvel how the creator chose to come to earth.
 He was born of a virgin as was foreordained;
 Witnessed by a star his holy entrance proclaimed.
 Angels sang of God’s purpose to those who would hear,
 Shepherds and wise men bowed as they drew near.
 We give gifts to others to celebrate God’s greatest gift bestowed.
 He is the greatest gift our hearts can hold.
 When we share Him we share life,
 When we share him we share light.
 He is the bread that nourishes our soul.
 He is the one that makes lost found and the empty full and whole.
 When we celebrate Christmas we honor Him.
 So again I say, Merry Christmas let our celebrations begin.
  
  

Jesus is the greatest gift ever bestowed upon man.  We celebrate the Christ’s birth by giving gifts to one another.  With him dwelling inside we are able to become a gift delivered from God.

You Are a Gift

      John 20:21        Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

     John 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

       

Jesus is the greatest gift ever bestowed upon man.  We celebrate the Christ’s birth by giving gifts to one another.  With him dwelling inside we are able to become a gift delivered from God.

You Are a Gift

  From the hand comes assistance, from the heart concern.
From the eyes a light of love burns,
From the mouth words of praise, and words to uplift.
The life of the servant of God is a gift.
They are worth more than they can ever know.
They were bought by the gift of love the Father bestowed.
Man is a gift to man if he contains within God’s Son;
For because of his contents, he a gift becomes.
Do not withhold kindness, always share your smile.
Give of yourself in self-denial.
Do the good deed, do not put the good thought aside;
By actions you prove Jesus lives inside
Your kind words and singled eye will a harvest bring.
Your willing heart and hands do great service for the King,
Reach out and touch someone in Jesus’ name;
For by your faithful service, you a gift became.
A lovely gift valued both by saved souls and God above,
A lovely gift filled with God’s own sweet love.  

John 20:21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 13:20
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

The greatest gift I ever received was salvation.  It never gets old.  It is the gift I desire to share with everyone I meet.  Jesus is the gift the Father bestowed upon a sin-sick world. We will spend eternity singing praise for a gift such as this.

Christmas Shoes

Christmas shoes were delivered to the door,
With Santa’s name attached, but they were from the Lord.
They are not fancy or flimsily made in fact;
They are sturdily made to last.
They fit perfectly…oh how he now runs.
His heart is full, he feels free to join in on the fun.
This was a Christmas gift needed, not a toy to be thrown aside;
To yet another story bring alive.
The babe in the manger grew to be delivered to your heart’s door.
With the gift of salvation presented from the Lord.
It also was needed; not flimsy or to be thrown aside.
In His strength you are able to run free and alive.
If you have the sweet assurance that your feet are shod,
With the holy gospel-truth the provision of God,
Rejoice and give thanks for the gift of God’s Son.

Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Christmas Story Retold by Looking Back

By Brenda Drake

I see by faith Mary large with child
Assuring Joseph she was all right…trying to smile
Surely she was uncomfortable for she knew the time was here
I can almost hear her sigh as the inn drew near
But no, it was not to be the place Christ would be born
There was no room available with a bed comfortable and warm
In a manger lined with hay
The head of the Son of God would lay
While the world was busy doing their own thing
In a stable was born the Savior King
The Angels could not contain their excitement… their voices sang clear
So loud the shepherds in the field could hear
“The peace on earth” will one day surely be
Because now looking back I know what He did to set us free
He that was born in a manger prepares for me a place as He said
I see by looking back the wonderful future that lies ahead

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

 

Love is the best gift we have been given and it is the best gift we can give.

 

Motivated by Love

Obligation motivates – guilt does too
But the best motivation for good is love in you
When you see a need in another’s life
And you know you have ability to make their burden light
If you grudgingly do it with a halting step
The good deed may be appreciated but its motivation isn’t the best
Love rushes in to help without much thought sometimes
You are reaching out to help before the solution comes to mind
Love is like the perfume of the rose
It is like deep thought within the word of prose
Its beauty is recognized right away
Healing comes even if you do not know what to say
A listening ear, a silent prayer
A simple card or a loving word shared
When motivated by love the world’s problems still exist
But there harsh reality has been sweetened by motivation such as this

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 

            Our dreams are like seeds. We need to look ahead in faith to see the fruit of our planted seed of hope.  At times I clearly see ahead but when I get impatient my vision of harvest disappears from my sight.

Far Reach into Tomorrow

A far reach into my future by faith I see,
The reality of what now is only a dream to me.
I see the results of hard work and prayers have paid well.
I see all the potential future successful stories I can tell.
As I gaze ahead looking in eyes faith filled,
I see the profit of new souls who are in God’s will.
Each step that I take
Led by my God each step of the way.
Finds a certain progress I cannot see.
Building toward the exalted future prepared for me.
I love my Lord and how I marvel in His ways
At His faithfulness I will sing praise.
A far reach into tomorrow by faith I see,
The reality of all that is now only a dream to me.
My God is with me now and He walks ahead too,
So I will enjoy today and watch to see my dreams come true.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.