Let’s cheer each other on today!
What victory – big or small – are you celebrating?

Debt reduction?A good grade?
Successful potty training?
Weight loss?
A great sale?
A near miss?
There’s enough competition and comparison in this world.Let’s use our time and our words to celebrate our victories together as we give thanks and praise to the Lord in a weary and watching world!

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done.”  Psalm 105:1

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye Heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Amen.

I love great music!  Especially powerful worship:  Quality music!  Phenomenal yet humble musicians!  A posture and Spirit of adoration of our Almighty God!  Yet……..today in a small group, after a precious time of prayer, we ended in a simple, acapella singing of the Doxology.  Just us.  And God.  WOW!  What more could we need!  So absolutely beautiful and simple.

Read/sing it over a few times slowly and carry the posture of praise to God throughout your day:

It’s a new year!  We’re all supposed to be striving for new and improved versions of our tired old selves…..how’s it working for you?  Are you focused?  Driven?  Determined?  Have you stepped out of your goal-oriented bubble long enough to be run over by the reality freight train?!?!

Now what?!?!

Remember to adjust, refocus and get back on track in knowing that it’s God’s goals that we should be chasing:  prayer, friends, worship, Bible, serving and loving are great goal tools!  🙂

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”  I Peter 5:10,11

Winter time is a great time to dust off the old puzzles and spend some peaceful time creating a masterpiece one piece at a time.

Start with the edges.
Then find the words.
Then the big pictures.
End with the same color background.

Sort of like life:  One piece at a time God is crafting His masterpiece called YOU!  🙂 We may not see the lid of our life puzzle box right now, but God can see it!  Can you trust your Creator?  Believe in His design?  Accept His plan?  One day it will alllllllll make sense!

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

New car?  We all know how quickly a brand new car will depreciate….
How about your new year?  How quickly has it depreciated?
How are you doing with your resolutions?

God’s not surprised by what is going on in your life.
Everything is not out of control for Him.

Don’t try to get out of everything around you.
Invite God in to your chaos.
Watch for Him in your story.
Rely on the comfort of His everlasting presence.
Lean in and follow His still small voice leading you.
And know He loves you dearly!

“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come…He will come to save you.”  Isaiah 35:3,4

To have snow or not to have snow – that is the question/debate!  Winter weather is only 1 teeny tiny matter of opinion dividing us these days.

Can we agree on some vital truths, though?  Love of others.  Community.  Brotherhood.  Compassion.

A local family lost their entire home – and 3 members of their family – in a tragic fire early Christmas morning.  Howwwwww can the survivors begin to comprehend what has happened?!  Howwwww can they possibly take the next step in life?  GoFundMe support has been amazing, but money can’t replace what they lost.  Time will probably never heal these wounds.  Love is their only hope.  Love of family and friends.  Love of community.  And most importantly, the love of God in His Son, Jesus.

Please pray for the survivors to know Jesus and His love through this tragedy.

“And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  I John 4:10

Every day!
Everywhere!
Its effects are in places you can’t even see!

No, I am not talking about germs….I am talking about the effects of Christmas!

Take a look around this week and next.  Notice how easy it is to make somebody’s day.  To make someone smile.  Consider all the thoughtfulness and joy that goes into getting ready and giving gifts.

Make a list and check it twice.
Find out who is naughty, nice and everything in between!
And offer each one of them the love of Jesus – our Hope – our Everlasting Father – our Prince of Peace!

“I bring you Good News that will cause great joy for all the people.”  Luke 2:10

Think things are upside down these days?The boxes get smaller, but the prices are higher!The promise is to make things easier, but it’s just so complicated to get there!
The days get MORE filled, but the 24 hour period stays the same!

How can we figure out which end is up this Christmas?!!?
REST in Isaiah 11 which foretells of the HOPE found in the coming of Jesus:
“The wolf will live with the lamb,

the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together;

and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear,

their young will lie down together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the cobra’s den,

and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy

on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord

as the waters cover the sea.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples;

the nations will rally to Him, and His resting place will be glorious.”

When was the last time you hung out with a 2 year old who questioned (and talked about) everything you did?
Who wondered about (and touched!) every Christmas decoration you have?
And was concerned about why there are so many bizarre characters (like The Grinch and Santa) associated with “The Jesus Story”?

I challenge you to think about this Christmas through the lens of a 2 year old….
Whyyyyyy do you have a tree in the house?
Is it Christmas now or Christmas ONLY on Dec 25?
Were the Wisemen scary looking?
And can we keep the lights on all year long?

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”. I Peter 3:15

You probably don’t know too many people in prison, but you probably know a LOT of people living in bondage.  Debt, addiction, loneliness, selfishness, etc.  Many things compete for our time and attention.  And many things sneak in to our schedules unannounced and rob us of God’s best.

Maybe on your Christmas list this year you can make room for a little comfort and joy.
For yourself.
Then with enough to share!  🙂

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”2 Corinthians 3:17