What was it really like that night?

Good Morning Friends!  Miracles in His love, Monday!  The other day I read an Advent devotion about Joseph…..all about his perspective of the things going on in his life with Mary and Jesus on the way.  Really got me to thinking that for sure, wasn’t all just a piece of cake for him.  The last few days our sheep have moved to a pasture right by the house, so as I leave for work I see them all there grazing (today one was stretched way up on a cedar tree, munching away) on the outside of the fence along the road sits a Pyrenees dog…..watching…..protecting the sheep.  Still thinking about the devotion on Joseph, my mind turned to the Christmas shepherds….guarding their flocks by night.  I wonder if they had guard dogs to help them…..do you think they were scared when the angels appeared?  Do you think the sheep scattered and the dogs took off barking trying to gather them up again?.......Do you think the shepherds stood, just stood calmly or took off running…..maybe they clung to each other terrified…..Can you imagine……I mean really, think about it……What if you were out in a field, in the dark, maybe coon hunting and all of a sudden….BAM!!!!   The sky lights up, brighter than any light you have ever seen…. You shield your eyes and look up…..you see….what is it….visions…forms like you have never seen….in the sky….and then they begin talking to you…..Things in the sky, brighter than any star or moon….talking to you…..think you might have wanted to run away and hide????  I can just imagine that at least some really considered it until the angels began to speak….”Do not be afraid”   Oh don’t you just know their voices oozed with calm…They were on a most important mission and really didn’t want the shepherds to be scared…..No, they wanted to tell them the good news….Jesus our Savior is born……I am sure the shepherds wasted no time finding the stable in Bethlehem where Mary and Joseph were wrapping Jesus in swaddling clothes and lying Him in a manger…..Oh my, there was so much more to that first Christmas, starting with Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah telling him that Elizabeth would have a baby, then his visit to Mary to tell her she would be the mother of God’s Son…..then sweet Joseph, his world turned upside down…..right to the shepherds….in the field….guarding their flocks by night….Friends, let’s ponder on these things…like Mary did……this week before Christmas let’s really try to slow down from the fuss…..relax in the glow of the Christmas lights and ponder on the Light of the World….JESUS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON……Father, help us to truly feel the emotions of that First Christmas and grow in our love for YOU.

 

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”….So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger… The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  From Luke 2.

Love you all!

 

Angels watching over you

Good Morning Friends!!!  Wondrously wrapped in His loving arms, Wednesday!!   I just love it when fall finally rolls around again!  Oh I’m sure our hot days are not over, but Monday evening did officially mark the beginning of fall!  And I was ready!  As soon as I got home and got Kim fed, I headed to the front porch to clean up a bit and get ready to hang my pumpkin and turkey lights!  Gosh I just love my lights on the porch…it’s just one strand of white mini lights, loosely stung, but I change them with the seasons.  Beginning with fall, I alternate pumpkins (jack o lanterns actually) and turkeys.  Simple little plastic ornaments, but I just love the white lights shining through them, especially in the long winter evenings!  Well, it’s become a tradition the last couple of years to endorse the help of Cooper and Katy (my 5 and 4 year old grandkids) to help me with the fun task.  So after cleaning up the porch I headed to their house to beg Mom to let me take them for a little while….my trip was successful.  Katy and I got the ornaments out of the closet and the three of us got to work.   They were so good at taking turns handing me pumpkins and turkeys…..We hadn’t hung too many when I discovered an angel ornament that I had missed taking down after Christmas…..somehow it had gotten hidden….all summer long, never once had I noticed the beautiful angel hanging in the front window of the porch…..I showed the kids and they were so excited….we all did a little happy dance about the hiding angel and left her right there in the front window with the pumpkins and turkeys.  As soon as they were all hung, Cooper got the honor of turning the lights on; another happy dance and to celebrate….ice cream.  I took them home and headed back to the house, anxious to check out our lights and see if I could possibly find the angel…..I just couldn’t believe I had missed it and never once spotted it hanging there.  Well, try as I may, I could not see the angel from the road….. right then, I suddenly felt….so warm, a safe, comforting warm…..I knew that I was not alone, His arms were encompassing me……He was not alone either…..a company of angels were with HIM…..the angels that HE provides for us…..all the time, everyday, in every way and place…..even though we do not ever see them…..Thank you Father, I know we keep YOU and Your angels real busy…..whatever would we do without YOU to comfort our sad, heal our sick, guide our confusion, calm our anxious, and share our joys.  All Praise to You Father!

 

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  Psalm 91:11-12.  Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?  Hebrews 1:14.  God said, “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and bring you to the place I have prepared.”  Exodus 23:20.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them.  Psalm 34:7.  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace goodwill to men.”  Luke 2 13-14.

The Most Important Christmas Choice

Good Morning Friends!  Thankfully loved by Him, Thursday!  This meditation really touched me and I know I could not put the message into better words, so sharing with you!  Praying your choices always reflect Christ.  Love you all!

December 4, 2013 The Most Important Christmas Choice Tracie Miles "Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'" Luke 2:13-14 (NLT) Tis' the season to be merry... and stressed. Although it should be a season of peace, this month can often make us feel more tangled up inside than a messy string of Christmas lights. Some people dread the hustle, bustle, and emotional rustle this time of year brings, knowing that irritability, loneliness, or depression will threaten. While there are others who may love the Christmas season, but worry, busyness, family conflicts, and unmet expectations take their toll. In either case, we have a decision. We can choose to get bogged down with stress or we can choose to bow down in worship. Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of praise in Luke 2:13-14. When Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds sharing the good news. Then many other angels joined together and praised God. "Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.'" (NLT) That's not the only place the Bible records angels worshipping the Lord. In Hebrews 1:6 it says, "And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said, 'Let all of God's angels worship him.'" (NLT) And Revelation 5:11-12a says, "Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus." (NLT) Angels serve as role models of worship. They bow down before Jesus. They shout with incredible joy as they sing songs of praise. Through worship, angels spread the news of God's glory and exhibit holy reverence. Angels intentionally and deliberately spend time praising God. Keeping Christ in Christmas is more than just a cliché. It is an intentional act of worship. It requires a heart of adoration, much like the angels had. When Jesus is the focus of our holiday, we're centered on His love, peace, and joy. This prompts us to be His hands and feet to others in need. When worship fills our hearts, it leaves little room for aggravation in long lines at the store. We focus on what Christmas is truly about—the amazing gift of a Savior—rather than stressing out over buying the perfect presents. We exhibit grace to someone when we'd rather do otherwise. Worship turns our attention to giving thanks to Jesus for all He has done, rather than letting stress strip His joy from our hearts. And it might even mean joining in with the heavenly chorus to sing praises to Him, even if we can't carry a tune! The holidays can bring a flurry of heightened emotions and can often result in an unhealthy level of stress which can prevent us from engaging in worship and praising the One we are supposed to be celebrating. There will be lots of choices to be made during the month of December: where to serve, what gifts to buy, and how many events to attend. The most important choice we can make is to worship and sing praises to our Lord. For His gift. For His love. For His peace. And when our hearts are at peace, our holidays can be too. Lord, I choose to intentionally worship and praise You during this Christmas season. Help me stay focused on You and Your goodness. Amen.

It's Friday the 13th! If you're superstitious, read Psalm 91!

Good Morning Friends!  Fabulous Friday because we are HIS!  Don’t think of myself as a superstitious person, but can’t say the thought of a black cat crossing in front of me thrills me and for safety reasons of course, I never walk under an open ladder, so this morning when I realized it was Friday the 13^th……well actually I said to my dozing husband sitting next to me, “Ah, it’s Friday the 13^th my lucky day!”  Like I said, I have never considered myself to be superstitious, but sinner that I am….I must admit I let those little….icky….weak…scaredy cat….thoughts rumage around in my pea brain a bit at times.   My bible reading this morning was Psalm 91…..I opened my bible and began reading…”He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ “  Oh my…..I had to smile….”He is my refuge and my fortress, my God”  I do trust Him….so bring on the black cats…..I continued reading, ”Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare, and from the deadly pestilence.”   Nothing could be worse than deadly pestilence, so what is there to worry about…right….my smile grew as I continued reading….”He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”  His faithfulness, shame on me…..how could I ever have a doubt….”HIS FAITHFULNESS”  is for me….and you!  Get this my friends, “For He will command His angels concerning you (little ol us that means)to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (or an open ladder).”  His angels, all of them…watching over us…..I can hear them singing…..”Glory to God in the highest!!!” Our Heavenly Father and His angels…..who could ask for anything more…..my smile was from ear to ear as I finished the Psalm, “’Because he loves me,’  (oh I do so love HIM) says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.’ “  Salvation, how sweet it is!!!!  Oh Father, thank you for loving us even when we are weak in thoughts, word, or deed.  Help us to always trust in Your love and care.  Thank you for Your angels that watch over us, help us to see them around us and give You the glory.

 

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24.  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13. 

Love you all!

January 3, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Totally trusting in His will Thursday! Happy New Year everyone! Although we never really know what even the next minute is going to hold for us, it seems that the beginning of a new year is always a time for reflection……things that happened in the last year and what lies ahead in the new. Times in our world seem to be unsettled…..stressed…..full of anger…worried about cuts in our paychecks….health care……world unrest…It would be easy for us to feel forlorn, depressed….but we are not alone, nor will we ever be…these are times we must truly draw on our faith, pull closer to our Heavenly Father…..hear His words…."Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8. He is our refuge and strength……don’t leave home without HIM! Remember the sparrows I told you about the other day, frolicking in the rain puddles….not a worry in the world…..”Consider the raven: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Than the birds…..how much more are we worth to our Heavenly Father…..Oh friends, like the angles told the shepherds so many years ago, “Fear not!” We are not alone, for goodness sake….He knows how many (or not) hairs we have on our heads! We are His adored children….now and forever! Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise of being with us every day in every way….helps us to totally trust and believe in Your will for us. This is the day the Lord has made……let’s get to rejoicing!

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:34. Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is full redemptions. Psalm 130:7. I love Psalms, don’t you!

 

Love you all!