A Gift for Jesus

This Christmas, my mom has been talking to us about what gifts we can give to Jesus. Not physical gifts like toys or clothes... but instead, something that we give up to Him. For me, the gift has been giving up my worries and stress to Him. I'm giving Him the gift of my trust, believing that He will help me when I feel overwhelmed. And it's brought me so much peace. Giving a gift has actually helped me :) Jesus wants a gift from each one of us. It could be money, it could be spending time with Him, it could be giving up fear, or pride... anything. So, my question is... what is your gift to Jesus this Christmas?

Doing small things with Great Love

Yesterday we had our Women's Centre Drop In Christmas party at our church. As a lady walked in the door, she gave me a Christmas card. I will share it with you trying to make it look as close to the original as possible.

Women’s Centre drop in. 

   I believe you have touched and left a lasting impression on every lady that has ever come through your door 

                        Wishing you a Christmas season

                      filled with warmth and happiness.

a BIG Thankyou

This is the letter that was folded up inside the card:

I have wanted to write this letter for yearsssssss

Hello Merry Christmas to everyone!

I really wanted to let all of you know what all of you do at the Women’s centre drop in, is exceptional. I had come back there recently and brought my daughter along, she’s 10 now. She said to me, “This is the place we came when we were sleeping in our car.” Really, we lived in our car, short time, she was 3 or 4 maybe, but she had remembered that! You just never know how you are helping?, and really, how you are helping! The food is always a blessing, the kidssss love the straws (of all things!) You just never know how something so small could make someone elses life a wee bit brighter. A straw!

I felt very accepted at the women’s centre. I really enjoy the clothing room, clothes are my thing, getting something new(used) always makes me feel happy. Something different to wear or a muchly needed winter coat. The houseware room was terrific. We had gotten a blanket that we still use today. 7 years ago. A very warm crocheted acrylic wool blanket. We don’t have proper heat so that blanket has kept us warm for yearsssss + in our car 7 years ago. So thankyou for all you do all year for all who walk through your W.C.D.I. door. OXOXO

Here's to each one of us who are doing simple things... small things really... with great love. We probably do more small things for others during this busy Christmas season than at any other time of year. My prayer is that you and I would experience God's love in our hearts and that His great love would fill us to overflowing as we do the small things in His Name.

Peace on Earth

It's something we pray for, dream about and toast to...well, I have never made a toast to peace on earth...but I just had this flashback to the movie "GroundHog Day" where the sweet and beautiful female character (Andie MacDowell) tells Bill Murray who plays a total self absorbed jerk that she always toasts to...you got it, world peace.  Anyway...I nearly lost my train of thought....let's get back to "Peace on Earth".

It's a little hard to imagine.  I can imagine Peace in Heaven...but Peace on Earth...well, it just seems a little far fetched, particularly at Christmas.  Have you been to the mall?

Have you talked to anyone lately that told you they just felt so "Peaceful" about Christmas?  Yeah, the only way I can really imagine it is if I lived out in the woods, like on Little House on the Prairie and there was this huge snowfall and nobody could go anywhere or do anything.  That kind of reminds me of peaceful but...I'd still be worried about all the people that didn't have heat or food or you know...all the stuff we don't know anymore or how to get for ourselves like they did on Little House on the Prairie.

With all that said...I'll tell you what I don't have to imagine....because I get it.  When Jesus was born and the angels declared "Peace on Earth"....it was Him.  He is Peace.  He is Peace in my heart.  Life gets busy. It can even get scary and crazy and feel like it's out of control....but Jesus is Peace, the Prince of Peace to get matter of fact.  He owns it.  He delivers it.  He wants us to have it.  He offers it freely to us.

Can you imagine what life on earth would be like if each one of us lived each day with His Peace flowing through us?  Could it possibly be a little more "Peace on Earth"?

Peace be to your heart sister and Peace be to mine.  Every time you see the word 'Peace', or hear it in these next few crazy days as we prepare to celebrate His birth...remember Him.  Remember that Jesus is your source of Peace.  He will fill your heart with it when you sincerely ask Him.  His peace is not of this world...it doesn't make sense to us sometimes...(if you've ever felt peace in a time of turmoil in your life, then you know what I'm talking about).

It's one of His many, many presents for us.

PEACE.

PEACE IN YOUR HEART.

PEACE IN MINE.

PEACE ON EARTH.

A Time for Everything

Hey all you blog readers. I've got some poetry to share with you today. Some of you may recognize it, and others won't. But I personally think it's a beautiful piece and quite intriguing.
Here it is:

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
A time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.

Isn't that great? It really gets you thinking... Well, do you know who wrote it? Do you know where it's from? Probably one of the famous poets like Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde, right? Hate to break it to you, but that's not right. Not right at all.

This poem is assumed to be written by King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. And who said the Bible wasn't interesting? :)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8... This passage has so much to think about, process, study... it says that there is a time for everything in life. But know when the time is right, that's easier said than done. I have to ask God all the time to show me what I should do, who I should talk to, what I should say. God's the best advice and wisdom-giver you can get! There is a time for everything, but only God knows when the time for each thing is. (I hope that makes sense... it made sense to me!)

Anyways, I guess this post is saying two things (because I got a bit sidetracked :) )...

1) The Bible has some really cool stuff in it and is still relevant in today's society

and 2) God knows when the time is right for every activity under the sun, so why not ask Him to show you that?

There is a time for everything...

Gifts, gifts, gifts...

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.. Ephesians 4:8-9

Salvation...Your Ultimate Gift.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28

Eternal life... I am held safe in Your Hand!

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper/Comforter/Advocate, to be with you forever. even the Spirit of truth. John 14:16,17

The personal Helper... Who is with me always!

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Ephesians 4:7

Grace... in full measure.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

Peace...for every situation.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Rest... because You will carry me. 

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

The Kingdom... because You delight in me and are pleased to give it to me. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Good gifts, perfect gifts - every one! ... from You, our unchanging Father.

Nothing tops this Christmas list, for it includes everything! And all because You love me. Thank You Heavenly Father!

Who are you?

I've got a lot to say and not a lot of time before I head off to work...so I'll eat my little bowl of oatmeal and type in between bites!

I have been pondering the last few days on the significance of my identity.  I have also been pondering one of the most beautiful names for Jesus, Immanuel.

This particular name for Jesus is most often heard at Christmas, that beautiful time of year that we celebrate and remember how God came to earth to be with us.

But sisters, listen to me, this one name...this one truth..."God is with us" is sooooooo important to you and to me and to who we think we are, believe we are or know we are.

Does that make sense to you?  On one hand it's so elementary but on the other, it is completely profound.

So my question for you today is.....

Who are you?  And what difference does Immanuel make to you?  Tell me.  I want to know.

The first one to write me back...will get a little treat...

Let's Talk about Christmas

I know, I know... it's early. But I love Christmas, so I start celebrating it as soon as possible! It is only 21 days away, you know :) Well, I just wanted to write a quick reminder about what Christmas is. Christmas is the birthday of a little baby boy, who was born into very dirty, uncomfortable conditions: a barn filled with hay. I don't know about you, but I definitely would not want to have to spend a wintry night in a place like that. But that baby was special. He was God in human flesh... giving up the splendors and glories of Heaven to come down to Earth and be with us. To live among us... and die for us. I imagine it to be kind of like if a human was to give up their normal, comfortable life to become tiny and live with ants. To eventually give up their life to save an anthill. That seems ridiculous, but in a way, that's what Jesus did. And Christmas started it all. So please, I know this season is crazy busy and can be stressful, but remember to take the time to remember God's ultimate gift. Don't let the real meaning of this season be lost. Jesus brought light to our world, and even today we celebrate that fact. Thank you, Jesus, for your gift.