CHRISTMAS IS GOD'S BUSINESS

" . . . AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED EMMANUEL (WHICH MEANS, GOD WITH US.)  Mathew 1:23

I just love Christmas, as all who know me will concur.  I grew up watching my mother, as all little girls do.  What I learned, as soon as I was too old for Santa, was: if Christmas was going to happen, it was my job, as wife and mother, to make it so.  My job to do the shopping, the baking, the cooking, the wrapping, the decorating, the cards, the tree (the list wears me out just to type it) . . . in addition to all the stuff I usually did.
     Now I didn't hold down a full time job, as many wives and mothers do today (how they do it all, I can't imagine), but I was busy, believe me.
     Add to that 7 kids who were sugared up and wild with the excitement of everything and you got . . . stress.  Lots of it!  Along about this time in Advent, I'd experience a wave of panic:  I'll never get it all done!   I got a small bout of anxiety yesterday as I looked at my Christmas cards, spread out all over the table.  What a mess, and so many to do!  And the shopping and decorating and baking weren't done yet, either.  Then there was the wrapping to do!
     I am remembering the year I got so sick the week before Christmas.  I was the Religious Ed Director at St. Pius Parish in Billings.  We had lots of activities in each class for programs and plays and visiting parents and all.  I had worked on that for a long time by now, and so had all the teachers.  So much still to do there.  And the things I still needed to do at home.  And I always had lots of company at my house for Christmas.  I just couldn't have handled one more thing piled on my plate.  Then, on top of that my dear husband had to go travelling around the state to deliver "gifts" to his customers.  I struggled through the week, sick and all, and did all the "Christmas" by myself, tried to care for my family and do my work at church.  I had no time for prayer or even recognizing "The Reason for the Season".
     But God heard me anyway, as He always does.  My parents came early from Chinook because the weather and roads were good, but would be turning bad the next day.  So there they were.  What a blessing!  They helped me with everything they could do.  Made sure I got some rest.  Picked up kids from school and took them to their various activities, cleaned, prepared meals, cheered me up, and calmed me down.  Never was their help more appreciated.  And I loved having them come for the holidays!
     And that was Christmas!  Christmas is not all the traditions we cherish -- cards, trees, decorations, food, programs, etc., lovely as they may be.  Christmas is Emmanuel.  God with us.  Christmas is that tap on my shoulder, the still small voice which whispers: "I am here.  I am with you, for you, right where you are.  In the middle of your mess."
     I don't have to worry that I'm too busy, or too sick, or too sad.  CHRISTMAS IS GOD'S BUSINESS.  He will make it happen.  And it always does, whether I'm ready or not!
     Father God:  Help me to relax, take a deep breath and trust You.. .  For Christmas.  Amen

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Ps118:24

We live in such an amazing time in the history of our country, world - heck, even our universe!  If we only saw through the eyes of the world, of carnal man, we'd be overwhelmed with hopelessness and worry about what is going to happen to us.  (Read Psalm 118:1-29)  We can believe what the psalmist wrote (sang) in this psalm!  Understand that in the midst of calamity, God promised to guard and cherish His children - FOREVER!!!  We can live in assurance and calm , despite troubles around us, if we love and trust God, our Father, He will be with us.  We have nothing to fear if we put our trust in our Guardian.  (See Debbie's comment on the March 4th post titled "Advice from the Mamma" )

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We have the assurance that in the storms of life today, Jesus Himself will be standing just outside the door waiting to be invited in.  He is waiting to share a meal with us, waiting to share our sorrows, to renew our courage, to come in and talk intimately.  With ME,  with YOU.

We are not alone.  We never shall be.  He has to be there; all we need do is open the door to Him.  What is your need today?  Do you need comfort in your personal trials?  Christ is waiting.  Do you need forgiveness for your sins?  He is knocking.  Do you need to make a new commitment to serve God with your life?  Whatever your needs, be they spiritual, physical, mental or emotional, right now, Christ is knocking at the door of your heart.  He is Lord of the universe, He is our creator,  and He wants to be Lord of your life.

(From Storm Warning by Billy Graham)

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What will you depend on today for your needs?  Although you may be tempted to trust earthly means more than God, have more confidence in God than anything else.

Kay has a picture hanging in her house that speaks this truth to everyone who wants to hear it.  It is a picture of Jesus standing outside, knocking on the door.  If you notice, there is no doorknob on the outside of the door, it can only be opened from the inside.  Meaning that Jesus "Stands at the door and knocks.  If one of you hears Him calling and opens the door [and invites Him in], He will come in and share a meal with you.  He will come into your heart, and share Himself with you.  But - you will notice that He is not opening the door and shoving His way into your heart - He is waiting for YOU to open the door and invite Him in!  Open the door of your heart -today- invite Him in.  (Revelations 3:20)

So . . . . . Let us rejoice and be glad in every day that the Lord has made!  To find joy and fulfillment, we should pursue fellowship with God!

A great movie

Son of God was a good movie.  Linda and I went this afternoon.  I recommend it to all of you.  It really blessed us!

Kay - could you share your "miracle" you had yesterday morning - driving on the icy highway?

Live according to the true faith in Christ, not according to false teaching

Warning!!!!  There are many, many false teachers and prophets in our world.  Learn discernment.  Is this person following scripture?  Or is their teaching and prophecy of their own or earthly life and ideas?  Observe and listen carefully!  A rule of thumb:  If it's not in the bible, then it's not truth!  So know your bible!  Read it daily.  Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you truth.  Ask Him to reveal to you what He wants you to know, hear, do, where to go, etc. today.  Then be quiet and listen for God's answers.  They come in many and various ways.  Ask Him to teach you everything you need to know about Him.  He will!  And remember - The "Gift of discernment" is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit.  It is one of the gifts you received when you received THE gift - Jesus, Himself.  Have you opened the gifts?  Or are they just sitting as pretty packages on your table unopened?  Open them - and learn to use these wonderful gifts given to you by God and the Holy Spirit!  (Read 1Corinthians chapter 12:1-11)  If you want to live the Christian Life as we are all called to live it - as Christ lives - then these gifts are very important, in fact, necessary to do that.  The Christian Life is not the easy way.  These gifts are great tools for us to use in our walk of faith.  Especially the gift of discerning where this teaching comes from, who that prophet is - from God, or world?  Also read Romans chapter 12 - all of it, but especially verses 6-8.  

Ephesians 6:23 & 24 - "May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grant peace, love and faith to all of you.  May grace and eternal life be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ".

Some advice from the Mamma (Lonnie) via St. Paul from Philippians 4:4 - 9

"I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness.  Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind and tolerant of everything: the Lord is very near.  He is coming soon.  There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.  Finally, my family, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honor, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise.  Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do.  Then the God of peace will be with you."    and  1Peter 5:7  " Give all your worries to Him because He cares for you".

God knows our needs and promises to provide for them.  We know if we bring our requests to Him, He will give us strength to live through any difficulty.

No matter where we are, God is as close as a prayer.  He is our support and strength  He will help us make our way up again from whatever depths we have fallen.  We don't often consider that sometimes Jesus is our strength simply to sit still.  "Be still, and know that I am God"  (Psalm 46:10).  Our natural tendency when we have a painful happening in our lives is to go into action -to DO something.  Sometimes it is wiser to wait and just be still.  The answers will come.

...We may be sure that God is true to His word and answers all sincere prayers offered in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  His answer may be yes, or it may be no, or it may be "Wait."  If it is no or "Wait," we cannot say that God has not answered our prayer.  It simply means that the answer is different from what we expected.

When we pray for help in trouble, or for healing in sickness, or for deliverance in persecution God may not give us what we ask for because that may not be His wise and loving will for us.  He will answer our prayer in His own way, and He will not let us down in our hour of need.

(From Hope for the Troubled Heart by Billy Graham)


Are you worried or in need?  Bring your requests before God.  Be specific.  Let God know your feelings.  Praise Him for His help.  Share your prayer concerns with friends who will also pray for and with you.  Pray for one another.  Love one another.  I will pray for you, you pray for me.

Love you all - Mom

Advent devotions/celebration with family and friends

Please check out facebook for the plan for this years Advent time.  Click on it to see what we are doing.  Hope to see you there!

The Great Commission

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:19-20  Jeruselem bible

This is the GREAT COMMISSION.

Are you a bashful Christian, one who is afraid to speak up for your Savior?  Do you leave it up to others to share their walk with God?  Do you believe that someone else will teach your children about Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit?  Do you share the commands of Jesus?  Are you reluctant to share your faith journey, your stories, your encounters with Jesus?  Too many of us are slow to obey the last commandment of the risen Christ; we don't do our best to "make disciples of all the nations."

Christ's Great Commission applies to Christians of every generation, including our own.  As believers, we are commanded to share the Good News with our families, with our neighbors, and with the world.  Jesus invited His disciples to become fishers of men.  We, too, must accept the Savior's invitation and we must do so TODAY.  Tomorrow may indeed be too late!

"Teach me your way, Lord, and I will live by Your truth.  Give me a single mind to fear Your name."
                                                                                                                           Psalm 86:11 HCSB

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I was always the shy one, such a bashful Christian.  I got better at sharing my faith after I was baptised in the Holy Spirit.  So did Peter!  Before this baptism of fire, he was denying Jesus.  But after - he became very bold!  On that day 3,000 were added to their number.  Read the story in Acts chapter 2.

I went from being "obligated" to attend mass every Sunday, to really enjoying being there, and couldn't get enough of "church"  (Jesus and the Holy Spirit).  I started going to prayer meetings.  Loved that.  I became a real part of the family of God.  I started a guitar group for the music at St. Pius Church in Billings.  Then I was asked to be the religious ed director there.  And did that, too!  I taught Life in the Spirit Seminars with my prayer group family.  We had the best time, and it was good!

Now I am older, and can't get to as many places, nor can I do as much.  But I can share on this blog.  This is also the Great Commission.   I'll keep sharing my faith stories as long as I live.  It is the good life!  I am happy in my Lord.  Please feel free to share whatever you want to with everyone on here.  I know there are some wonderful stories and story tellers amongst us.  You never know who will need to hear what you share.  At first it is hard, but just ask Jesus to help you and to give you what you need to do this.  And you'll find an excitement, a fun time, and words you didn't know you could say!  That's what I did, so I know anyone can do this!