Preparing for Christmas

By: Just myself
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Fred’s birthday

Well now that my son’s birthday is over, I can get down to the business of Christmasing. I can’t get over the fact that my baby boy turned 16 this year. Time goes by too quickly.

Christmas has always been a magical time for me. I love the lights, the trees, the presents, the people, the food and yes even Santa Claus.

The production of such an event takes time and effort. The decorating, the shopping, the preparing, the ribbons and bows. To be honest as fun as it is on Christmas morning, the stress of getting it all right has been a bit much to handle at times. If I am completely honest it still is to an extent.

So today, now that Fred has had a happy birthday, I turn my heart to preparing Christmas. Making my list, checking it twice, hoping to find the gift that’s just right.

I love gifting, I love hospitality. I love preparing Christmas breakfast, an old family tradition. I love the love.

The Love of course is the main focus. The road to the cross, the lowly manger where my savior was born, the revelation that my heavenly Father cares and wants a personal relationship with me, His brutal death in my place on a cross, and His resurrection and promise that He will go ahead to prepare a place for me in heaven.

The Love ❤, the heart of Christmas. How easy it is for it to get swallowed up in the hustle and bustle, the processing of ribbons and bows. Consumed by the crowds and the loud and rush and the stress and the mess.

Today I prepare for Christmas. Making my list. Checking it twice. But one more thing, checking my heart, have I been naughty or nice.

Today I prepare for Christmas, search my heart Lord, turn it fully back to you. Prepare us for the greatest gift us humans ever knew.

May the still peace of Christmas be with you as we prepare this week.

The Lies We Speak

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Why do we call things differently then they are?

When did it become the “norm” to say we are fine, when we are not?

Where is our world going to end up, when we cry out “peace, peace” and there is no peace?

Who’s voice are we listening to?

How did we get to a place where we see one thing with our eyes and call it by another name, and it is accepted and applauded?

What will be our end, if we keep on speaking lies?

And Jesus cried out saying, “FATHER FORGIVE THEM, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!”

And my heart cries out, “Father forgive us, we no longer know what we are doing!”

Considering gifts for Christmas, why not more of the gifts of the Spirit!

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How about it Holy Heavenly Father; could I please have a sleigh full of wisdom?

Thanks for that!

Would it be too much to ask for some knowledge and understanding with that?

Thanks so much.

A little refill of faith sure would be appreciated.

Your generosity amazes me Lord.

I know a few that need healing and miracles Lord, how about the faith to have Your power flow out, to touch and proclaim Your beautiful name.

Thanks Father for listening to me.

Oh yes, I would certainly benefit from some more discernment to tell the spirits apart. That surely would help keep me safer Lord, not to be lead astray.

Now that I think of it Lord, if it’s not tiring to you to hear me, I really need the gift to be able to explain to others in a way they understand. What if sometime you send someone to me Lord from a foreign land?

Praise the Lord, and thank you so!

Prophesy Lord, to be in line with you. A rather scary gift I think, but maybe it should be on my list to.

To be a Cryer on the wall, to turn hearts back to you. I cannot think of a greater gift then to see the world repent and turn to You.

Peace and Love sure would be a pretty wrap, woven through it all and overflowing to the rest.

I know this list is long, and sleighs full is a lot to ask, but I know Father you have great wealth if your people would just ask.

“Give thanks to the Lord! It is right to give Him thanks and praise!”

Seems Like It’s Going To Be A Red Letter Day

By: Just myself
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According to Oxford Languages on Google, a red letter day is “a day that is pleasantly noteworthy or memorable.” Of course I hope today will be pleasantly noteworthy, but that is not what I am referring to.

Lately, I have been hearing the questions deep within my soul, “have you set yourself apart, are you noticeably Mine (belonging to the Lord)?” “Is your temple in order?” “Do the work!

In case you haven’t noticed the world is a bit of a mess right now. There is turmoil, division, fear and hate. Many have shut themselves up in their homes like dark caves, quaking in fear. Others are rioting in the streets. It has become taboo to speak of God, and to hold onto morals and ethics.

This is not Christian! We walk humbly and boldly. We fearlessly speak the name of Jesus. We love, but call a spade, a spade. Or do we?

I mentioned Jesus in a discussion yesterday with someone I did not know if they were Christian or not. His face lit up. Ended up being a long conversation.

How can it be, that in a society built on Christianity that we don’t hear the name of Jesus? That we don’t talk about the greatness of God?

How is it that our morals and ethics are being trampled on, and we sit quietly by, not warning of the impending danger?

Today is a red letter day, in the book of John 5 there is a familiar story (for anyone that went to Sunday school) of a healing at Bethesada. Jesus asks a man who had been lame for a long time “Do you wish to get well?” Of course he did, so Jesus told him “get up, pick up your pallet and walk”. The man was healed, but he did not know Jesus. Later on Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “look, you are made well, do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you” @NASB (Jesus words in my Bible are red.)

I find myself contemplating those red letters deeply today. I know the salvation is a free gift from God. Free meaning we can not earn it, it was VERY expensive to God to give it to us, it cost a precious life, but free for us to receive.

What has my mind churning is Jesus’ warning, “do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” Can salvation be snatched away?

In my opinion North American Christianity looks for a great number of “Christians ” just like secular living, in many ways, myself included. We accept the gift of grace and mercy, without the dedication to the relationship and discipleship. The Bible warns in Paul’s letters that our sins add to the punishment of Jesus. Do we want to add another stripe to His back? (Don’t get me wrong, I do not expect perfection, we are not God, only God is perfect.)

I believe God is becoming weary of the uncircumcised hearts of His “believers”. I believe our testimony is being compromised. I believe the Lord is calling us to repent, to weep for the brokenness of the world. I believe if we do not change our paths, we may relearn what it is to “fear the Lord” in our time.

I do have hope though, a story from 2 Chronicles 20. If we repent. If we stand firm. The Lord will direct our paths even unto war, so we can live in peace.

Today I ponder my red letters, as I ask the Lord to cleanse my own temple. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive them and to cleanse us from unrighteousness.”

Will you make today into a “red letter day” ? Has the Lord stirred your soul with deep questions? Are you willing to respond to Him?