December 24

John 1:1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Light is here. Receive Him today, in your heart, and in your every activity. That is the best gift you can give to Him: allow Him to be a part of your every thought, word and deed.

Merry Christmas!

December 22

Isaiah 40:11
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

When life speeds up, it's good to remember Christ as our Shepherd. He gathers us in. And this promise is especially for moms - He's gently leading us.

Sigh. Lean in.

December 21

Matthew 1:23
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”


Christ is with us. In all our preparation, in all our busyness, in all our ups and downs, God is with us. Since we've always had it available, and even sung about Emmanuel, perhaps this Truth has not sunk in yet. While God was distant before Christ, He can now live inside each of us and be literally with us. Immanuel is here.

Spend some time with Him now, thanking Him for His presence, and discussing the next few days - the last of your Advent preparation. Is He prioritized? He is here. Immanuel is just as present today as He was in the manger. Are you worshipping the King?

December 20

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:10-11
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

The miracle of Christmas is Emmanuel: God with us. Christ, the Word, has always been, but at Christmas, He came to us. Imagine that. He had been with God, perfectly loved, and He chose to come to Earth, knowing full well that the beings that He had created would not receive Him.

And yet He came.

Receive Him, and the Emmanuel of Christmas will be with you...always.

"...lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” -Jesus (Matthew 28:20)

December 19

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

We have glass balls, in red, green and gold, onto which I wrote the fruits of the Spirit with permanent marker. They are placed in a crystal bowl. It's a simple and pretty decoration, and a poignant reminder. Pick one up each day during your quiet time, and ask God to grow that fruit in you.

Advent is a time of preparation. What better way to prepare than to allow the Holy Spirit to bring us to fruition?

December 17

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you deliver will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would calm a storm with his hands?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
And when you kissed your little baby,
You kissed the face of God.

Oh, Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear,
The dead will live again;
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb.

Oh, Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nation?
Did you know that your baby boy
Was heaven's perfect lamb?

That the sleeping child you're holding
Is the great I Am?

As I've been practicing this song to sing on Sunday, I've come to see new hope and meaning in it.

It's a continual rhetorical question: Mary, did you know?

And I believe the answer is no. She had not an inkling.

Yes, the angel had told her that this would be the Son of God. And yes, she was likely raised well, knowing the scriptures which included the prophecies about the Messiah in Isaiah and other prophetic books. Yes, she may have had the head knowledge.

But did she really know? She was fully human - she could not have known.

It's the same with us. Someday, in heaven, God may ask - Grace, did you know what I was up to when I did this, and when I did that? Grace, did you know?

Isn't that amazingly hopeful? Miracles could be playing out all around us, but we just can't see them...yet.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Reread those songs words, and ponder what all Mary did NOT know...all those miracles. And then ponder...what do YOU (I) not know?

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9

Amen. Come soon, Lord Jesus.

December 17

There's nothing like a season of busyness to discover our own weaknesses. Like a teabag with boiling water poured over it, you find out what's inside during the heat and pressure. I don't know about you, but my "tea" is not always sweetly flavored!

Thankfully God knows that we are but dust, and He is willing to work through our weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

God knows me (and you!) and still loves me (and you!) and still uses me (and you!) . That's the King we celebrate!

December 16

Psalm 143:8-11
Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.
10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me. In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.

Amen!

We're only 9 days away from the celebration of His birth. Are you hearing the angels sing? Are you hearing His voice? Are you feeling His pleasure?

What give can you bring to His party? What gift is there for the God who has everything?

The psalmist brought Him his soul. He lifted up his soul to the Lord, and then he waited for God to do the rest. He asked God for teaching, for deliverance, for leading, and for revival.

Is your soul in trouble? Along with the psalmist, beg to be brought out. Christ wants you to worship and adore in fullness and in truth.

Let's read this passage every morning from now until the 25th, and see what God brings to mind.

December 15

1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, [Paul] just as I also am of Christ.

Do you ever consider making New Year's Resolutions? Now might be the time to start praying about what God would like you to work on in your life.

I hear Christians purposely ignore different aspects of their life under the heading of "freedom." They don't want to get legalistic about life...just fly by the seat of their pants.

I don't want to be legalistic, as in the Pharisees, either. But we are to imitate Christ, and Christ was D*I*S*C*I*P*L*I*N*E*D! He sought out His Father's will, and He did it.

I am going to seek out what God wants me to work on. Right now I'm sensing that my main 2009 resolution will have to do with prayer. I treasure my time in the Word, and no longer need *rules* about that. But let me tell you, a checklist was where it had to start. Indeed that sounds legalistic, but actually it was needed discipline.

I'm asking myself these questions:

• Are you in the Word consistently?
• Are you attending a Bible teaching church?
• Are you careful about what goes into your mind?
• Does your family feel prioritized?
• Is your living space orderly and clean?
• Are you feeding His Temple (your body) what it needs?
• Are you exercising?
• Do you spend time with God in prayer?
• Are you getting enough sleep?
• Are you stuck in a sin issue that is defeating you?

Part of readying ourselves for His coming, Christmas, is looking at ourselves and asking, "Am I growing in Him?"

Start thinking about, doodling about, and praying about how you want to grow in 2009.

December 14th

The Latin word for "advent" means "the coming."

"The advent season was instituted as a time of fasting for holy living, and it remains a time of inward preparation for the commemoration of the coming of Christ....it's a month to be still." (from Preparing My Heart for Advent by Ann Marie Stewart.)

I marvel at Ann Marie's words. I don't know about you, but I have not been fasting. And I've been anything BUT still most days.

And yet.

I am preparing for Him, even in my busyness. This year there is a lightness, and a non-panic in my preparations. Times with Him, often in the early morning or late at night, are sweet. There is a contentedness in my exhaustion. Life is being lived to the fullest, and I am experiencing His peace.

My life is so not storybook perfect, and there are challenges on every side. But there is also joy and hope.

Luke 2:8-14
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

December 13

Luke 1: 39-43

39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43 “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?

Immediately after the angel told Mary she was with child, and that Elizabeth was also pregnant, Mary hurried to Elizabeth's house. Do you think that perhaps she was seeing if indeed that HAD BEEN an angel rather than a hallucination?

Wasn't it kind of God to tell Mary about the unlikely pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth? With this news, God built in a proof to Mary: if Elizabeth was pregnant, then the angel HAD been real.

God understands our humanity. He's willing to work with us.

God went even further to reassure His bondservant, Mary. Not only did Mary find Elizabeth pregnant, but Elizabeth immediately knew of Mary's pregnancy. There was not yet a physical sign of pregnancy, but the Holy Spirit revealed the truth to Elizabeth, and she shouted out in joy.

Can you imagine the relief that must have flooded dear Mary? It was real. And best yet, someone understood, and would be on her side in the upcoming months as the pregnancy was revealed.

God gave Mary, His favored one, a role to play in history. And He gave her human support to help her fulfil it.

What does He have for YOU to do this Christmas? Whatever it is, He'll give you the strength, the courage, and the support for you to succeed. Lean in.

December 12, a bit late

Think upon Luke 1:37-38

37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.” [-the angel]

38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”

These two verses give me enough to ponder for the whole advent season.
NOTHING is impossible with God. Of course if I believe that He created the world, and that He rose Christ from the dead, I believe that He can do anything. But it's good to ponder that truth. Think of something that you've just about given up on. Is it possible for God? Are you praying for Him to do it or take the desire for it from you?

And then Mary's response: May it be done to me according to your word.

Chip Ingram of Living on the Edge (lote.org) recently said,

"The wisdom of God tells us that God will bring about the best possible results, by the best possible means, for the most possible people, for the longest possible time."

I serve a God who knows all and moves in that knowledge. Complete knowledge which brings guaranteed best results. Mary understood this concept. Though the path looked complicated for her, she knew her God and that His way was always the best way.

Oh that I could really trust Him as Mary did.

December 11

Luke 1:26-40
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.


Being ready for Christmas means being in right relationship with God. Mary was ready for Christmas. The angel called her favored, and declared that the Lord was with her. Her humility kept her perplexed, and the angel reassured her not be to be afraid, that she had found favor with God.

God will use those who are ready to be used. Not ready as in polished and pretty, but ready as in humble and obedient. He sees our hearts, and He knows when we're ready.

Does having the holiday for which you long seem impossible at this point? Think of how life must have looked to a teenage virgin suddenly carrying the Christ child. God encouraged her. He told her, through the angel, that NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.

Talk to Him today about what seems impossible. And then ask Him to help you to see what is standing in the way of God finding favor with you. Once you are in right day to day, minute to minute relationship with Him, NOTHING is impossible. His desires become your desires, and what fills your heart is Him - and He is enough.

Even if the Christmas for which you currently long never happens, you'll have something BETTER. You'll have the fulfillment of knowing God's presence within, as surely as Mary felt that baby. When the road was rough, Mary could think back to that angelic encounter and KNOW that a sovereign God was orchestrating everything.

We can know that too.

December 10

This morning I discovered a little nugget. Click on:

Lifelines

At that address you will find a short devotional every day. The Bible verse is in the Amplified Version - a great version of the Bible that uses a string of words to convey a thought - because in the Hebrew and Greek many words need more than one word to translate them. It's like looking key words up in a dictionary and then putting the definition right in the text.

Once you are there, you can also listen to a completely different "Everyday moment" on audio.

I listen to her podcast on the treadmill. Joyce says it like it is. I am really blessed by her ministry.

Try going to this devotional each morning when you check your email. Consider the Bible passage as email from God!

Do you have a favorite online devotional? Leave the URL in the comments!

dates

I'm blogging ahead of time in anticipation of some busy days. So please go by the GREEN date...that's the reading for that day. The top date is the date I wrote the blog even if I wrote it ahead of time. Sorry for the confusing lay out.
Actually, just read something RED each day, (the Word) and God will bless you for it! :)

December 9

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

God's light is to shine in us. And yet, God, in His wisdom, gave us a free will and free choice and we humans mucked it up and sin entered the picture. And so daily we have to fight ourselves: fight ourselves to let His light shine in spite of the flaws of our earthen vessels. When we do something Christlike, the surpassing greatness is obviously God in us. People notice and God can be credited. Our trials and our natural sinful bents can be used to glorify God in that we can become more Christlike in our responses.

James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded

When we blow it, and we all will, we can draw near to God to cleanse and purify us. Then once again the Light of the world will shine through us. This Light arrived at Christmas, and we proclaim His birth in our everyday lives through the way we reflect Him.

In this busiest of seasons, we likely need to draw near more than ever so that once we are cleansed and purified we reflect Him even in the hustle and bustle. It's a catch 22: we need Him most in the busyness, and in the busyness we feel we don't have the time to draw near.

God's word is truth: you need to draw near. Take the time, and the rest will fall into place. God is the author of time and efficiency. Do things HIS way and He will order your steps.

December 8

On Sunday I was invited to sing in a "Sing a long Messiah." Held at a grand Catholic Cathedral, we sat by vocal section in the pews, facing a large community orchestra, the director and four sublime soloists. We stood to sing the choral parts as the director turned to direct us. It was awesome. It was also humbling as I sight read most of the scores. Although I listen to it daily in December, I've now realized that I sing along to ALL the parts, and mix them all together. Following the score was a whole different experience.

The first solo is a tenor singing "Comfort Ye." Sigh. It is simply lovely, in music and lyrics, and today's soloist did it justice. It's still one of my favorite pieces.

Isaiah 40:1-3 "Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins." A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah was told by God to comfort the exiled Israelites. The 70 year captivity, a punishment for Israel's rebellion against God, was almost over. Her punishment behind her, she could have a clean slate. Comfort.

How kind of God to give them hope and comfort in the midst of punishment. God does promise consequence to our actions, but there is never a lack of hope. No matter the sin, God is waiting to take us back and to comfort us even through the consequences.

Be comforted. Your Savior is born, and He is Christ the Lord. Emmanuel. God with us. Take comfort. He is LORD. And you can be reconciled to Him.

Organizational Tip of the Day:

Pick out the cookie recipes that you make and inventory your supplies. Make a list of ingredients needed, and put it in your wallet. Next time you dash to the store for something, you can pick up the cookie ingredients too. Schedule an evening to make the first batch of dough. Refrigerate until you have time to bake.

Easiest Christmas treat: Turkey Eggs. Place pretzel rings (circles) onto waxed paper on a cookie sheet. Melt white chocolate. Spoon chocolate into the center of each pretzel ring. Put a red or green m&m in the center of each one and allow to harden. A quick, easy, tasty and pretty confection. The sweet and salty combination is a winner.

December 7

We invited our neighborhood to a Christmas party last night. Weeks ago I slipped invites into a dozen nearby mailboxes, inviting them for hors d'eouvres and beverages, and asking them to bring a small plate of something sweet. Two dozen new friends attended, and we had an excellent time reacquainting, and also meeting some for the first time.

Of course yesterday was a FULL day of cleaning, cooking and finishing the decor. This year Thanksgiving was late, and Christmas is suddenly upon us. Although I've puttered my way through a few decorations, there was A LOT to do as of yesterday morning. That's why I like to be the hostess: there's nothing like a deadline to get things moving! Due to the extensive help given by our 16 year old, the house was officially READY for Christmas as of 5 pm.

At about noon I was emptying and scrubbing out the refrigerator. I knew that the guests would be in and out of the fridge to get beverages, and the spills and crumbs just had to go. Somehow when guests are coming in, things get cleaned that otherwise tend to be ignored. It's not that we're slobs, but we always live with some level of uncleanliness - whether the kitchen sink is a bit scummy, the floor contains a few crumbs, the washer and dryer have spilled detergent and lint, the stove and refrigerator retain a few spills... Since I do have interests OTHER than cleaning, daily living does build up.

Until we have guests. So many times my family has asked me....WHY are you cleaning that? WHO is going to see that?

My answer has usually been, 'If I don't clean this for guests, when will I ever clean it?" I take advantage of the visit to force myself to go a step or two beyond normal cleaning.


And yesterday, as I was scrubbing the area under the vegetable drawer (it definitely needed scrubbing,) it occurred to me that Advent is a preparation for the arrival of a guest. We take a month to anticipate His arrival, and we clean things up a bit in preparation. The problem is that it is so easy to focus on the outward preparation: preparation that is often focused on the arrival of other guests, who allegedly are also focused on Him. (but likely caught up in the season of His birth rather than on Him) It's easier to prepare our surroundings than our hearts.

Jesus IS the reason for the season. The parties are for Him.

And while the extra entertaining, the traditions, the family gatherings are all good things, they are not THE thing. We all need to focus on some internal cleaning, some internal preparation for Him. While He is always within us as believers, and in a perfect world we would be internally anticipating Him moment by moment, as humans we need constant reminders, annual observances and celebrations. We need that "guest" mentality to kick us into gear. And so each year I do concentrate on Advent. We as a family do light the Advent candle on Sunday evenings. We do a few extra family devotionals. And I, as an individual, try to keep that urgency of doing some annual internal scrubbing in anticipation of worshiping at His birth in an even more intimate fashion than the year before.

Just as my home couldn't get guest worthy in a day if I did not keep up daily cleaning all year round, my general habit of daily time with Him is the background for a truly meaningful Christmas. Yet, just as the power scrub concentration of a few days does remarkable things to ready my home for guests, a month of focused attention to Him and His birth can allow me a *cleaner* worship experience.

It's December 7th already. How is your heart cleaning going?

December 6th

Happy St. Nicholas Day. Living in the Milwaukee area, my husband's family celebrated St. Nick on the morning of December 6, and we have carried on the tradition. There really was a St. Nicholas, a very benevolent fellow, so we keep the tradition. The two college kids took their loot back to school with them to open this morning as well. It's not quite as much fun as when four little people came racing out in the morning, but we continue nonetheless.

Let's focus on Mary today. Perhaps we can try to adopt a Mary attitude this month.

Luke 1:26-38
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

December 5

I love it when God brings me to the same concept in the Bible from different directions. God confirms in me YES GRACE think upon that.

That happened yesterday with Isaiah 40:11
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

In our study of the Names of God, I learned that Jehovah Raah is "The LORD is my shepherd." Looking in Scripture to see where God is referred to as a shepherd brought me to Isaiah 40:11, which is a passage which inspired another one of the songs in The Messiah.

The 19th song is entitled, "He shall Feed His Flock," and features soprano and alto solos.

Thus the Names of God study overlapped the Advent study, and I kn0w that God is revealing Himself to me as my shepherd today.

Did you know that sheep are dumb? They are among the dumbest of animals, and only survive if they have a watchful shepherd. The Scriptures continually compare people to sheep, insulting but true, and Christ identified Himself as The Good Shepherd in John 10:14

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me."

Do you know Him? Really know Him? Sheep get to know their shepherd's voice and smell by spending time with him, as well as by following their parent sheep who are in turn following their shepherd. It's all about trust. Once the sheep trust the Shepherd, the sheep can rest securely and just follow him from pasture to pasture. They're still dumb and helpless on their own, but they are secure in their Shepherd.

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Did you get that? Without Him we sheep can do nothing.

What a great concept for the busiest month of the year. Apart from Him and His leading, I can be a pretty dumb sheep and wander right off the cliff of busyness. In this month more that any other I need the guidance of my shepherd. I want to find the comfort of His rod and staff as stated in Psalm 23:4. I need to know my Shepherd well enough that I can completely trust Him and His plan for my life, my month and my day. And I need to stay close enough to Him to feel His nudging - within a staff's length for sure.

As you meditate on Psalm 23, talk to your Shepherd. Thank Him for the promise of Isaiah 40:11 - that He will tend to you, gather you, carry you close. Rest in Him.

Psalm 23 A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Organizational Tip of the Day
Instead of sending out cards to everyone you know, select a few people to whom you can actually write a few lines of personal greeting. Maybe mail one or two each day? Christmas is about relationship...don't let the "stuff" steal the joy of the relationships.

December 4

Handel's Messiah is without a doubt my favorite piece of music. Recently I had to drive a couple hours in the car, and I listened to it for the first time this season. From now until the new year it will be the standard music in my vehicle, for my daily commute as well as the longer trips.

The music transports me. The words uplift me. The words are Scripture. When you listen to The Messiah, you are inadvertently memorizing Scripture, and that is always a good thing.

I read recently that in August of 1741 Handel was given a list of Scriptures by a friend, and when he read them he was overcome and the music began exploding within him. The entire score was written in 24 days, and is the most performed music in all of history. Isn't it amazing what the Word can inspire?

One of my favorite songs in The Messiah is based on Matthew 11: 28-30.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Those verses seem especially appropriate at this time of year. Are you weary yet? This week I am - it seems that Thanksgiving came so late and Christmas is upon us. The month has hardly begun and I'm already feeling behind.

But there is perspective in His Word. His yoke is easy. What He wants me to do is totally do-able. He gives me the strength to get every bit of His will done. Are you sharing His yoke? Or are you trying to pull through the holiday season all in your own strength? Talk to Him about it now. Lean on Him and even your busyness will be bearable - because He's there right next to you, each step of the way. Spend some time in the Word each day and see if you can't become consciously aware of your yoke mate - all through each day. No organizational tip can top that advice!

December 3

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (KJV )

That about says it. To find peace, we need to keep our mind on Him, and trust in Him.

Read Luke 1 again. Did you marvel at the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias? Look at verse 13:
Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.

Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous in the sight of the God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years. (Luke 1:6-7)

Zacharias and Elizabeth's minds were on God, and they must have trusted in Him to be labeled righteous. Righteous and yet longing for a child. Trusting that God knew best. Do you think he was still petitioning heaven, even at his advanced age?

Whatever it is that you are longing for today, find peace with it. Stay your mind on God. Trust Him. Petition Him. And then be at rest. When you start to lose your peace about it: REPEAT!

After all, as the angel told Mary, For nothing will be impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)


Organizational Tip of the Day


Look at your December calendar, and write in any plans you have. Now think of what you haven't "planned." Getting a tree? Pencil it in! Baking shortbread? Which day? Going to the post office? Pick a date and time to give yourself a deadline. Get the essentials onto your calendar, and then work the plan. You'll feel less pressure if you have a time slot attached to each task!

December 2nd Add-on :)

Christ alone can bring lasting peace - peace with God - peace among men and nations - and peace within our hearts. ~~Billy Graham

December 2

Rest. God invented rest. He created the world in 6 days and then He rested.

Ge 2:2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

Rest doesn't ever come easy in our fast paced lives, but it is a key to Godly living. God identifies Himself as "the LORD who sanctifies you" in Exodus 31: 13.
Sanctify means: A verb meaning to be set apart, to be holy, to show oneself holy, to be treated as holy, to consecrate, to treat as holy, to dedicate, to be made holy, to declare holy or consecrated, to behave, to act holy, to dedicate oneself. The verb, in the simple stem, declares the act of setting apart, being holy (IE withdrawing someone or something from profane or ordinary use). *

The context of Exodus 31 is the Sabbath rest. God commands that
Exodus 31:15 ‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord;

While we are no longer under the Law since Christ's death and resurrection, the Law was put in place by a loving God for His chosen people. It was GOOD for them. And so it is GOOD for us.

All this is to say...rest is a part of our sanctification. God designed us, He wrote the Owner's Manual, and He modeled rest. He also modeled WORK, which December will certainly hold plenty of, but please remember that REST is God's idea. Being well rested will indeed set you apart in this world, and perhaps someone will ask you WHY you prioritize as you do.

So many times I hear women tell me that they feel guilty if they rest. That is false guilt. Rest is a gift from God. Rest in the Lord. Rest with the Lord. Be still so that you can know that He is God. I love how the New American Standard Bible puts it:

Psalm 46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

God is the one who makes us holy - sets us apart - sanctifies us. But we need to take the time to rest in His presence. To be still. To cease striving. Amazingly, the more time we take with Him, the more productive we will be. (it's true! Try Him!)

Want to read more of the Word today? Luke 1 sets the stage for the blessed birth. Read it slowly. We'll read it more than once this month. Get a notebook and identify the main characters, and then write down what you learn about them. Study Luke 1 for a few days.

Organizational Tip of the Day:

Keep your bedroom clutter free. Take a little time now to create a restful resting place. Is there room for a reading chair with your Bible, notebook, and a pen so that you can find respite in His Word? A journal in which to keep lists and release worries? Find a candle for your bedside table.

Bedrooms can often become the dumping grounds. As much as possible, make yours a sanctuary. Fill a box with clutter, if necessary, and stick it in the closet to sort later. Keep a restful spot in your home during this very busy month.

*[from: Baker, Warren: The Complete Word Study Dictionary : Old Testament. Chattanooga, TN : AMG Publishers, 2003, c2002, S. 980]

December 1

Peace reigns where our Lord reigns. -- Julian of Norwich

My goal with this blog is to bring Christ to mind each and every day through December 25th. It's as simple as that. Since I have not pre-written more than a couple entries, I may fail at the "each and every" part, yet I will give it a shot. Some days might just be a verse and some days more thought. Comments will enrich the content for all the readers - please share what you're learning about Him.

"Peace on Earth" is what the angels proclaimed, and it's still the heart cry today - from the presidential campaign to bumper stickers to holiday cards: peace is what we all desire most. To be at peace with ourselves is the greatest goal - and that can only be found in peace with God.

Know God, know peace. No God, no peace.

This month let's think about peace. Real peace. Incorporate the Prince of Peace into each day by starting each day with Him. Review your schedule with Him. Write your to do list with Him. Allow Him to impress upon you what is important and what can be skipped. Christmas is a celebration of HIM after all.

Isaiah 9:6
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called

Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Peace.

Meditate for a few minutes on WHO this child is who arrived in the manger. These words in Isaiah reveal Him as everything that we need on daily basis and what the world around us clamors to find: a counselor, the mighty God, a father who is ALWAYS with us, and a peace maker. HE is the answer. Let's seek Him in a new way this Advent season.

Organizational tip of the day:
Put together a box of tape, gift tags, scissors and a pen; and store it along with a roll or two of wrapping paper. Do it now - early - and scramble less later. If you find yourself watching TV alone, wrap a gift or two - no pressure, just the feeling of accomplishment. Better yet, turn the TV off and put Handel's Messiah on your CD player. (or computer!)