One Child - The Nativity

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

What a beautiful prophecy and description of the Savior. Unto us a Child is born (His humanity) Unto us a Son is given (His divine nature) I have known Him as my Wonderful Counselor, as my Mighty, Nothing is Impossible God. He has been the Father my heart always needed and longed for. My Prince of Peace in the midst of all that life can throw at me. He's more than enough and exceedingly abundantly above all I could ask for or think. Let's not lose sight of this wonderful gift in the midst of the season.

Dolly Parton; Selah - Once Upon a Christmas

I love this version of Once Upon a Christmas. It amazes me that Dolly Parton wrote it, just the way it amazes me that crazy (in a good way) Mark Lowery wrote Mary Did You Know. I guess the Lord means it when He says, "but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God." 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NASB That's what gives me hope that I may do some lasting good in this life. Those who know me recognize what God has done.

It is hard for me to take when someone compliments me on some aspect of giftedness and they don't realize what a work God has had to do to bring it to pass. It isn't a false sense of humility...it is a deep realization as Paul says in Romans 11:36 "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

I don't want to ever lose sight that these creative gifts come from the great Creator for the benefit of us all.

I hope you are enjoying this wonderful season. Cast all your care on Him because He cares for you.

Encourage One Another!

Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13a

Is there anything that can cut deeper than ingratitude? I think as mothers and fathers, as good employees, caregivers, or faithful church members we have all felt its sting at some point. Experiencing ingratitude can cause us to look back with regret that we didn’t show more gratitude to those people who blessed us with acts of kindness or service.

I knew a young woman who wrote birthday and anniversary cards to an enormous amount of people. She felt led to do it and was very faithful. I was one of many who received a card twice a year from her, year after year. Little did any of us know that would be her legacy. She died in her early 30's from an undiagnosed brain tumor. I have never seen as many people at a funeral visitation as I saw at hers. The line went on and on and many waited almost an hour to pay their respect. As people stood in line they talked about the cards she had sent to them and how much it meant. I wondered if she knew.

A couple of years ago I was facilitating a Bible study and I mentioned her example of faithfulness and the impact it had. I was leading a morning and evening class and in both classes women spoke up and said they had developed the same ministry in their church. Both had tears in their eyes, both expressed that they were ready to quit because they didn't think it mattered to those who were receiving them. Both of those dear women felt encouraged to continue.

Rich Mullins said something that shook me to the core in his music video A Pursuit of a Legacy. At first I balked at what he said until I realized the real point he was making. His statement as best as I can remember it was this, “Some people are bothered that Catholics make so much of Mary. I am bothered that we make so little of each other.” All I can say is, “Ouch!” I want to be a person who is grateful. First and foremost to a God who redeemed me with the blood of His Son, has forgiven me every trespass, and has lavished His grace on me. I don’t ever want to get over the magnitude of what He has done or take Him for granted. I believe keeping that gratitude in the forefront everyday will splash over on those who need to know that I appreciate and notice their acts of kindness. Yes, our motivation isn’t to get a pat on the head, but it can certainly brighten and encourage the heart of a weary traveler.

Look around in your life, church, home or work place and tell those who serve in big and small ways that you notice and appreciate what they do. Make it your goal to encourage someone today. You never know when God might use you to be the wind beneath their weary wings.

MY PRAYER: Lord, open my eyes to see and appreciate those that serve in big and small ways. Help me to be a grateful person. Everyday you load me down with benefits too many to number. Thank you.

MY CONFESSION: Today I will encourage and build others up. I will esteem others and tell them so. I stand on your Word!

Gifts That Differ

I am repeating this because I think it is good to be reminded of these truths.

Blessings,

Carol

And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8 NASB

Recently I went to a wonderful retreat. We looked in depth at the motivational gifts of Romans 12. Each gift was assigned a color. God is light and as light goes through a prism the light rays are bent in such a way that the seven component parts of light are seen. The raindrops in a cloud do the same thing and we see a rainbow with its beautiful colors.

We were taught that each of us has one of the gifts that is dominant and is our motivational gift. However, as we mature because we have the Holy Spirit of God, we have a deposit of each of the gifts within us. As we grow and yield to the Holy Spirit these other gifts can grow.

As we spent time looking at the strengths and potential weaknesses of the seven gifts I found my appreciation of each one growing. God's design is as beautiful as any rainbow. That thought called to mind a wonderful song by the late Keith Green.


Stained Glass

We are like windows, stained with colors of the rainbow,
Set in a darkened room, till the bridegroom comes to shining through,
Then the colors fall around our feet, over those we meet,
Covering all the gray that we see,
Rainbow colors of assorted hues, come exchange your blues,
For His love that you see shining through me.
We are His daughters and sons,
We are the colorful ones,
We are the kids of the King,
Rejoice in everything.
My colors grow so dim,
When I start to fall away from Him,
Then up comes the strongest wind
That begins to blow me back into his arms again,
And the colors fall around my feet, over those I meet,
Changing all the gray that I see,
Rainbow colors of the Risen Son, reflect the one,
The one who came to set us all free.
We are like windows, stained with colors of the rainbow,
No longer set in a darkened room,
cause the bridegroom wants to shine through you,
No longer set in a darkened room,
cause the bridegroom wants to shine through you.


Near the end of the retreat we were asked to close our eyes and have a time of quiet meditation on what we had been taught. Immediately in my mind's eye I saw Joseph's coat of many colors torn and bloodied. My reaction was, "What was that all about?" The next morning as I awakened I sensed the answer to that question in my spirit. The Lord seemed to be saying that jealousy and misunderstanding of the gifts that He has bestowed to His people had left many bloodied and torn.

As I shared that with the group a woman immediately spoke up. She obviously has a strong teaching gift and she shared that God had shown her the same thing. She had been deeply wounded by the jealousy of others in her Christian community. Joseph was one of 12 and had been so horribly treated by his brothers. Their jealousy over their father's favor toward Joseph represented by his beautiful coat exploded into vindictive rage. God showed her how his 12 disciples spent an embarrassing amount of time in competition and contemplation over who we be greatest. However, God had taken her to Revelation 4:4 "And around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads." Who these 24 elders are was not the point the Holy Spirit was highlighting. It was the words "around the throne." That word around comes from the root word for circle. What God was speaking to her heart was that in a circle there is equal access. No need to vie for position and their focus was on Him who sits on the throne. I think all of us left the retreat with a deeper commitment to honor what He has done in us and others.

God places each one in the body as it pleases Him. 1 Cor 12:18 This is a season like no other when we need to celebrate the gifts that God has given to His body. If we are to be effective and faithful we must learn to deeply appreciate the giftings of others. According to Hebrews 10:24 we are to stimulate one another to love and good works.

MY PRAYER: Lord, I want to earnestly contend for the faith and not compete. What do any of us have that was not given to us by your blessed Holy Spirit? Our gifts are not for ourselves but to be used in serving others. Help me to celebrate what you have given your body to enrich us and impact a lost and dying world for you. In Jesus name and for His glory. Amen.

MY CONFESSION: We have gifts that differ according to the grace given. We will exercise them according to the proportion of our faith, with liberality, diligence, and cheerfulness. I stand on Your Word!

Encourage One Another!

Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13a

Is there anything that can cut deeper than ingratitude? I think as mothers and fathers, as good employees, caregivers, or faithful church members we have all felt its sting at some point. Experiencing ingratitude can cause us to look back with regret that we didn’t show more gratitude to those people who blessed us with acts of kindness or service.

I knew a young woman who wrote birthday and anniversary cards to an enormous amount of people. She felt led to do it and was very faithful. I was one of many who received a card twice a year from her, year after year. Little did any of us know that would be her legacy. She died in her early 30's from an undiagnosed brain tumor. I have never seen as many people at a funeral visitation as I saw at hers. The line went on and on and many waited almost an hour to pay their respect. As people stood in line they talked about the cards she had sent to them and how much it meant. I wondered if she knew.

A couple of years ago I was facilitating a Bible study and I mentioned her example of faithfulness and the impact it had. I was leading a morning and evening class and in both classes women spoke up and said they had developed the same ministry in their church. Both had tears in their eyes, both expressed that they were ready to quit because they didn't think it mattered to those who were receiving them. Both of those dear women felt encouraged to continue.

Rich Mullins said something that shook me to the core in his music video A Pursuit of a Legacy. At first I balked at what he said until I realized the real point he was making. His statement as best as I can remember it was this, “Some people are bothered that Catholics make so much of Mary. I am bothered that we make so little of each other.” All I can say is, “Ouch!” I want to be a person who is grateful. First and foremost to a God who redeemed me with the blood of His Son, has forgiven me every trespass, and has lavished His grace on me. I don’t ever want to get over the magnitude of what He has done or take Him for granted. I believe keeping that gratitude in the forefront everyday will splash over on those who need to know that I appreciate and notice their acts of kindness. Yes, our motivation isn’t to get a pat on the head, but it can certainly brighten and encourage the heart of a weary traveler.

Look around in your life, church, home or work place and tell those who serve in big and small ways that you notice and appreciate what they do. Make it your goal to encourage someone today. You never know when God might use you to be the wind beneath their weary wings.

MY PRAYER: Lord, open my eyes to see and appreciate those that serve in big and small ways. Help me to be a grateful person. Everyday you load me down with benefits too many to number. Thank you.

MY CONFESSION: Today I will encourage and build others up. I will esteem others and tell them so. I stand on your Word!

Giving Back in Proportion

Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you. Deuteronomy 16:10 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 16:17 NIV

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. Romans 12:6

In the beautiful harmony of the two Testaments we see that we give back what was first given to us. It all flows from His grace. It is to flow in response and in proportion to the blessings we have received. The aim in both economies is to testify of His goodness to us.

In the Old Testament the freewill offering was to be from their flock. In the New Testament we are to present ourselves as living sacrifices as our spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1 Of course we give of our material blessings, but more importantly we give ourselves to Him, to His service, and to take our place in His body. He has given us His Holy Spirit which will manifest in gifts to be used in service to him and to his people.

In our present economy churches may be hurting for money to carry out the Lord's work, but I can say with confidence that virtually all churches are in need of gifted workers who have a servant's heart. I have attended 3 churches in 35 years and have friends attending many other churches. The story is always the same...a small minority doing the majority of the work and a lot of potential ministry opportunities unable to be staffed.

I know people who teach lunch time Bible studies at their workplace. I know someone who is in an assisted living facility and does Bible studies for the other women who live there. I am friends with several women who have jail ministries and also serve their local church. I know people who for years have worked faithfully serving the Lord with joy in their church. However, I am going to say this as kindly as I know how, faithfulness, commitment, and the heart of a servant are rare even among church goers. For many, even if God told them specifically what He wanted them to do, they wouldn't be faithful. They won't forgo the pleasures and pulls of life to prepare and show up Sunday after Sunday. He deserves so much more from His people.

I am not trying to produce guilt in anyone's heart. The Lord made it clear to me a long time ago that anything done for him motivated by guilt has no reward. I am asking for a heart check between you and the Lord. Are you serving Him? Are you presenting yourself, in light of all that He has done for you, and in proportion to His blessings, as a living sacrifice? How has the Holy Spirit gifted you? If you aren't sure then take one of the many spiritual gifts inventories that can be found online. Ask Him to develop a heart to serve in you. Ask the Lord to show you how He wants you to serve and where. Stay focused and pay attention after you pray. I can assure you He will delighted to let you know.

MY PRAYER: Lord, help me to stir up the gift that you have given me and use it to serve you by serving your church and your world. You have blessed me and I will respond in proportion to those blessings. By your grace I will take my place. I will also pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into the harvest. In the name of the One who is worthy, amen.

MY CONFESSION: You have given to each one of us the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. I have been gifted and I will use it for the common good. I stand on your word! 1 Corinthians 12:7

Abounding and Abundant

But Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. Psalm 86:15 NASV

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15 NIV

My next door neighbor and I went to the same church. We both sang in the choir and had formed a good friendship. She had surgery on her neck and was going to be immobilized for several weeks. The choir got together and supplied some meals for Judy and her husband. I cooked a couple of meals and took it to them. It was summer time and my garden was doing well so I took Judy fresh tomatoes and a vegetable casserole. In my mind I had done my part.

A few days later during my quiet time I was using a list of the names of God as a prayer and meditation guide. One of the names that I was meditating on was Abounding and Abundant. I was thinking on all the ways the Lord had been those things to me. Then in my heart I asked the question, “Since I am to be like you, how would those qualities look in my life?” I was going through my day when suddenly the Lord answered my early morning question. In my spirit I sensed Him saying, “I would feed Judy until she is well.” I took a deep breath as I let His response sink in. At that time I was taking care of my mother-in-law who was a complete invalid. I said, “Lord, if you want me to do this I want to do it with joy and not just a sense of obligation.” I told my husband what I felt the Lord was asking me to do and if he was willing to purchase the extra groceries and to help. He got on board with it and for the next couple of weeks I cooked for both our families Monday through Friday. On the weekends her daughter would come and take over.

I had such joy and gladness as I planned and cooked our meals. My husband would load up their portion and take it down when her husband got home from work. They were blessed and so were we.

What did I learn? We can exchange a sense of Christian duty for a vibrant experience of His abounding and abundant love flowing through us. Jesus asked us to go the second mile, to be a cheerful giver, to be as generous as He is. He also said that it was more blessed to give than to receive and we certainly experienced that. Glimpses into His heart may cost us something but it is so worth it.

MY PRAYER: Lord, I don’t want to walk in duty and missed the delight of your abounding and abundant nature flowing through my life. I ask you to reveal yourself to and through me. In Jesus’ name amen.

MY CONFESSION: A slave is not greater than his master. You humbled yourself and came as a servant. You promised that if I know these things I will be blessed if I do them. By Your grace, I will. I stand on Your Word! John 13:16-17