Christmas Cards Praying

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 

always in every prayer of mine

for you all making my prayer with joy,

 because of your partnership in the gospel

from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, 

that he who began a good work

in you will bring it to completion at the day 

of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3-6 (ESV)

For the past 3 evenings, we have taken 5 Christmas cards each night and have prayed for the individuals who sent them to us. It's been a vivid reminder of God's blessings in our lives and that of the family and friends who sent the cards. 

I must share that as we have prayed each night, each of us have recalled specific acts of kindness that we have received from these precious people. It's like opening up the "blessing vault and finding great treasure." The enemy would have us become so busy that we neglect prayer and supplication for others. 

As to how you utilize the Christmas cards, that will depend on you and your family. There is not a right or wrong way.  Some families pray when they first receive their cards in the mail. 

My challenge to you and your family is to begin TODAY! 

The Many Names of the Blessed One

   Ah, Master, I will use them.

   Rabboni, I will pray.

Good Shepherd, I will not abuse them

   However far I stray.

   Redeemer, you have bought me

   Back from slavery.

How could I scorn the Son that taught me

   Light and how to see?

   This day of circumcision,

   This covenantal day,

Names you our future Resurrection

   Life and Truth and Way.

   Ah, baby, head so heavy,

   Lay it down, I pray.

Soon you will raise it strong and steady

For the crown of Christ in Glory ---

  Perpetual Christmas Day!

[Source: Preparing for Jesus,

The Third Day of Christmas, page 144]

Christmas Poem, Paul Gerhardt, 1653

   O Jesus Christ,

   Thy manger is

My paradise at which my soul reclineth.

   For there, O Lord,

   Doth lie the Word

Made flesh for us, herein thy grace forth shineth.

   He whom the sea

   And wind obey

Doth come to serve the sinner in great meekness.

   Thou, God's own Son,

   With us art one,

Dost join us and our children in our weakness.

   Thou Christian heart,

   Who-e'ver thou art,

Be of good cheer and let no sorrow move thee!

   For God's own Child,

   In mercy mild,

Joins thee to Him; how greatly God must love thee!

[poem from Preparing for Jesus; The Second Day of Christmas, page 140 & graphic courtesy of www.christmasbackgrounds.com]

an American Kid by Go Fish

Tonight, as I was blogging, I came across this song by Go Fish.  I dedicate this song to the many beautiful kids and young people who stand for the Lord Jesus Christ and who are proud of their nation. Also to all our military men and women serving our great nation along with all their families who make great sacrifices for our freedoms.  My family is most grateful for your service.  Please click here to get a blessing.

The Threat from International Law - It's Very Real!

We receive on a regular basis communication from folks at www.ParentalRights.org. Please click here to read this very important article. Either myself or Rob will be writing a series of articles at our blogs.  Stay tune and steadfast in prayer.  We're living in serious times.

Immanuel - God With Us

Matthew 1:23

This week, I rediscovered the song, "Immanuel," 

by Michael Card. 

Then I saw this rendition of it on 

You Tube. Click here to listen.

Christmas Joy

I follow a particular blog entitled, "Windows to My Soul." I clicked on it this morning and was blessed by Vicki's most recent entry to her blog, "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Scrooge, But." Click here to read it.

The world's joy is temporal but the joy that Jesus gives is eternal. A familiar way to spell joy is Jesus-Others-You. When in balance that is true JOY!

In the 4th verse of the traditional German Carol, "How Great Our Joy," we find find these words.

This gift of God we'll cherish well,

That ever joy our hearts shall fill.

How great our joy! Great our joy!

Joy, joy, joy!  Joy, joy, joy! 

Praise we the Lord in heav'n on high!

Praise we the Lord in heav'n on high!

Now dear ones, that is a lot of joy. Oftentimes, the joy comes once we head in the direction toward the source of true joy, "King Jesus." 

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God. Luke 2:20

Starting Anew!

How many times, we begin with great intentions and become derailed? I can answer in the affirmative because that explains how I'm feeling right now as I'm posting this entry to my blog.

Instead of enjoying the joy of the season, I'm bogged down and feeling out-of-sorts and just frustrated. My Mom used to say "the faster I go, the be-hinder I get." Oh Mom was right!  Blogging has its advantages. I am able to think out loud via my writings, thus gaining a fresh perspective.

This coupled with a godly husband who helped me evaluate my schedule for the rest of the week and into the weekend, showing me that I had way too many things planned. Tomorrow, I'll call this particular friend and reschedule.

I must caution myself as well as each of you, we cannot rely on our emotions to speak truth to our minds or souls.  I read Lamentations 3:21-26 from the Amplified Bible.

Please allow me to share these incredible verses with you.

21 - But this I recall and therefore Have I hope and expectation:

22 - It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. [Mal. 3:6]

23 - They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and

 faithfulness. [Isa. 33:2.]

24 - The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. [Num. 18:20.]

25 - The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word].

26 - It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord.

At the beginning of Jeremiah Chapter 3, verse 1, I read, "I AM [Jeremiah] the man who has seen affliction under the rod of His wrath." Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet and was called forth by God early, read Jeremiah 1:4-9. He experienced tremendous amount of persecution. Interesting fact that I didn't realize until I read the Introduction of Jeremiah in my Amplified Bible is this quote, "More is known about the personal history of Jeremiah than about any other prophet in the Old Testament." This statement should bring tremendous amount of comfort to both you and I. Why? God has a plan even in our difficulty and still are benefiting from Jeremiah's life these many centuries. In fact, "Nothing is too difficult for our God." Indeed this brings me great comfort as I ponder what that really means.

Take time to read the book of Lamentations especially the verses that I have listed. Dear ones, we can start fresh and anew right now. Do not allow the enemy to play havoc with you. We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ, our Lord, read Romans 8:31-39.

I am determined to start anew right now!  How about you? 

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

A Basket of Christmas Books

One of our traditions that we have around our house at Christmas is the placement of all of Christine's Christmas books in a festive basket in her room for her to read as well as to be read to. Each year, we add a book or books to her collection. Now that she is older, of course, the selection of books has changed. However, she still likes to have some of her earlier books nearby. 

These books are like old friends and as we ready the books to be placed in her basket, our family is able to draw from a reservoir of priceless memories. It's something that Christine looks forward to every year. We keep the Christmas books put away during the year so as to make it even more special when they are rediscovered.

I, too join in this tradition by placing many of my favorite Christmas books inside a decorative basket near our sofa or love seat whereby providing an interlude of reflection and renewal. For the past 16 years, family members along with friends have added to my special collection of Christmas books. In the evening, when our tree is all decorated, I like sitting on our sofa, sipping hot chocolate, or a hot tea and reading a selection from my basket of Christmas books. I must confess that's so easy to get side-track or allow the entrapment of this time of the year to detour me. Or in some cases, allow the stress to overtake me and steal my joy. It is vital for me to have a visual reminder to gently redirect me to be intentional in my celebration of Jesus' birth and His second coming.

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)