Merry Christmas!
Is December an enjoyable month for you or stressful? If it is fun, perhaps you could share with us what it is that you enjoy and how you keep it from being stressful. If it is stressful perhaps this is a year that you/we could begin to learn how to keep Jesus Christ forefront and our plans in the background so that we can have peace in our lives.
Do we realize the Lord is always there with us, desiring that we would be in communion with Him? "You will keep in perfect peace Him whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3 Do we keep our minds steadfast (fast in place, firmly established, unchanging, unfickle or wavering) on the Lord, knowing He is there? Do we realize that is where true peace can be found? Are we choosing what He would have us to do each day, or have we made a list of things to do that cause us to forget the LORD and run our own way, which ends in total exhaustion and stress?
Let's take a moment to steadfastly turn our mind to the LORD in prayer for today, where we will find His peace. "the peace that transcends all understanding."
"Father, I come before you, you are the God of peace and you desire my communion with You, that my heart and mind would be fixed on You. I admit that I have been running helter skelter, being fickle in many ways and not trusting You. Would you help me to set my mind on You, to seek You and Your will in my day? When you send reminders to me that you are there and that it is in You I find peace of mind, help me to heed the reminders. I desire to live for you today, rejoicing in your love and basking in your peace. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Good morning!
Today I have been thinking about the creativity of God, that He created so many beautiful things for us to enjoy, including the people around us. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 19:2
For those of us who have children they too are a special creation of God with gifts and talents specifically given by Him. Once they come to know the Lord as their Savior, He has plans for their future and for the using of those gifts and talents. See Ephesians 1:3-11 "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory." Our children were created to be to the praise of His glory. He has special plans for each one of them. They are His creation! Ephesians 1:12 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
As mother's and grandmother's and aunts we have the blessed privilege of encouraging the use of those gifts and talents for the Lord. Do they like to read, let's encourage the reading of God's Word, though books that are sound. I am constantly saddened by the children (and mother's) who know so much about the world's books and entertainment and so little of the Bible and the beautiful true Bible stories. Perhaps for birthday and Christmas gifts you could choose stories that would bless them spiritually? Are you reading Bible stories to your children? Which Bible character is their favorite?
Perhaps they like to draw? Encourage them to draw nature and point out that God is the Creator. Perhaps you have a child that is physical, they love sports. Encourage them in solid physical activity and godly actions whether they win or loose. Some children have a natural bent toward hospitality, they enjoy serving people who come to visit. As a mother this is an area that can be developed in the child. They can learn to set the table, prepare simple foods, and serve others.
This will take time and some observation of our children to "see" their God given talents but it can be a joy as we see them growing in these areas. We can encourage them in positive character traits and in the abilities that God has given them. They are not all the same so we have the privilege of getting to know them and guiding them when they are young. Thankfully they are God's children and He will have a greater influence if we don't do it perfectly.
Today I have been thinking about the creativity of God, that He created so many beautiful things for us to enjoy, including the people around us. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 19:2
For those of us who have children they too are a special creation of God with gifts and talents specifically given by Him. Once they come to know the Lord as their Savior, He has plans for their future and for the using of those gifts and talents. See Ephesians 1:3-11 "so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory." Our children were created to be to the praise of His glory. He has special plans for each one of them. They are His creation! Ephesians 1:12 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
As mother's and grandmother's and aunts we have the blessed privilege of encouraging the use of those gifts and talents for the Lord. Do they like to read, let's encourage the reading of God's Word, though books that are sound. I am constantly saddened by the children (and mother's) who know so much about the world's books and entertainment and so little of the Bible and the beautiful true Bible stories. Perhaps for birthday and Christmas gifts you could choose stories that would bless them spiritually? Are you reading Bible stories to your children? Which Bible character is their favorite?
Perhaps they like to draw? Encourage them to draw nature and point out that God is the Creator. Perhaps you have a child that is physical, they love sports. Encourage them in solid physical activity and godly actions whether they win or loose. Some children have a natural bent toward hospitality, they enjoy serving people who come to visit. As a mother this is an area that can be developed in the child. They can learn to set the table, prepare simple foods, and serve others.
This will take time and some observation of our children to "see" their God given talents but it can be a joy as we see them growing in these areas. We can encourage them in positive character traits and in the abilities that God has given them. They are not all the same so we have the privilege of getting to know them and guiding them when they are young. Thankfully they are God's children and He will have a greater influence if we don't do it perfectly.
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