Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!
How are you spending these in-between days?!?

Don’t stop now!  We have one last gift to give this season.
The gift of ourselves.
To God.

Steal away for 5 minutes, 1 hour or a whole day.
Alone.
With your Bible.
And maybe worship music.
Perhaps a journal.
Or a sketch pad.

Read. Pray. Listen. Wait.

Put yourself first this week for a change and make an old year resolution to rest in the Lord.

“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God”  Psalm 46:10

St. Nicholas
Santa
The Big Guy
Father Christmas
The list seems to be endless!

As you make a list and check it twice this week, may your meditations be deep and your sleep be sweet as you rest in the truly endless and wonderful Names of God!

Merry, blessed CHRISTmas!

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.”  Isaiah 9:6,7

I’ve been taking vitamins and supplements a long time.  Taking them MY way.

A friend just taught me something new!  I had been taking one of my supplements incorrectly.  I was wasting time…..and money.  But most importantly, I was not getting the health benefits!

Do you know everything there is to know about God?  The Bible?  Living as a follower of Jesus in this messy world?  (hint: nobody knows EVERYTHING!)

Who can you reach out to today to invite to share your journey? 

“He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  I Thessalonians 5:10,11

I’d like to share a very important message from Bible.com.  This is from one of their plans:

Seeking Contentment at Christmas

Christmas is a time to pause, ponder, and praise the gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Rather than succumbing to the unwanted burden of financial and social obligations, we must intentionally seek stillness to hear the voice of God and find the strength to sacrificially serve and share His love with others. Much of our loss of peace comes with the financial pressures we feel when the emphasis of the season is on buying gifts.

With complete dependence upon our mighty God, we can say “No” to the demands of the world and joyfully celebrate the birth of Him who fills us with His peace. Let’s honor Christ this Christmas season with sincere and humble hearts and experience the peace that He gives. 

“For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” (Psalm 107:9)

The other night our power went out… Sort of.  Every room was dark… Except for two rooms which had partial power.  It appeared that the electricity was working, but it was weak.  It was fragile.  It was temporary.  It was not capable of taking a full load.

Are you living on your own personal partial power?  Or are you relying on the full load capacity of reliance on God?

Go ahead – give it to Him!  He can handle it ALLLLL!  Follow the roller coaster of emotions through Psalm 13 and rest in His goodness!

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in Your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in Your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise,

for He has been good to me.”

Have anyone at your Thanksgiving table who won’t drink wine?
Who doesn’t watch football?
Who thinks different politically!?

What is the most important ingredient at Thanksgiving?

SALT!  What would your Thanksgiving be without salt!?  Bland mashed potatoes and unsavory stuffing are one thing, but where would you be this Thanksgiving without the Salt of Jesus in your midst?  Remember:  salt only works in close contact.

Who are you going to rub off on this weekend?

“Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”  Mark 9:50

Today’s message brought to you by a sweet friend whose family is taking one step at time after a very difficult surgery.  Lisa writes:

Truth. This journey has been a very trying time for our whole family.

Why do I keep telling you all this? Not for attention or sympathy. But everyone I know right now is fighting battles. Down right hard times. Take them step by step. No matter the mountain you are climbing you won’t reach the top if you don’t put one foot in front of another. I want my friends and family to be reminded to pray. Listen to God and take your journey minute by minute, step by step, just like Dino!

Psalm 37:23-24: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”

Today a dear friend wished me laughs, treats, family and friends.  Such a perfect lineup for me!  And God “exceedingly abundantly more than I could ask or imagine” Eph 3:20-21 blessed me!  And then surprisingly on top of it all a friend sent me a card with confetti!  Confetti!?!?!  How fun!  🙂

What are a few of YOUR favorite things?  Friend time with golf, statistics and bacon?  Quiet time with flowers, cats and a good book?  Quality time with nice clothes, a suspenseful movie and special company?

Whatever God has called you to do/be  – do it BIG!  I call this living on the right side of the comma!  🙂  Live where God leads.  Trust Him for the details.  Love large.  Follow Jesus as the Way….

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, <— note the comma! – and have it to the full.”  John 10:10

Peace = manyyyy definitions and images come to mind

Are we talking a groovy language of peace?
Are we reverently offering each other a sign of peace at church?
Are we dreaming of an empty house or office so we can enjoy some peace + quiet?

Or…..do we consider God’s perspective of peace?

Isaiah 48:18 
Peace like a river….? Wait what?  An abundant river that rambles and rises and flows?!?  Well-being like the waves of the sea!?!?  Active, innumerable, unceasing…?!?

Riding the waves and the river with God are an exhilarating (and scary!) place to be!  Only with Him will we find True Peace!

“And the God of peace will be with you.”  Philippians 4:9

Hope for a sunny day tomorrow?  LOL!
Hope for cheaper gas prices?  Keep hoping!
Hope for sanity and civility in all things elections?  Oh dear!

The old hymn has it 100% right!

“My Hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand”

Seek hope with a capital H!  And His Name is Jesus!  All other ground is sinking sand.

“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our Hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”
I Timothy 4:10