Today we go from a Christmas Challenge to "Christmas Risk", and it has me thinking. So much of us love our comfy chairs and a "relationship with Jesus". We like the assurance of heaven and feeling like we're good people. It's all very...nice. But we're not called to "nice". We're called to follow Jesus wherever He leads--not just to our favorite row in the sanctuary, but to the trenches, over the edge, into the deep.
Jesus calls us to pick up our crosses and not look back, and to follow Him. Matt. 16:24
We seek what's pleasant, but we should be seeking God. I think if we know that if we listened--really listened--to the Holy Spirit, we'd lose a lot of comfort. We think that's the thing we want to avoid most, but somewhere inside of us isn't there a place that yearns for the challenge of hard-core obedience?
Think about when we watch reality shows where people push themselves for a goal. It's the reason people spend hours cheering on the favorite teams or playing video games. We were made for battle, but we've condemned ourselves to being warriors on the couch. I'm right there with you!
I don't want to be a powerless Christ-follower. I want in the game. I want to go where He leads, sacrifice and endure and work for whatever plan He has for me.
I want the risk. I want His Will....how about you?
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Love Came Down at Christmas
Hello Ladies
As you are busy with getting ready for Christmas, I thought it would be good to just think
on the love of Jesus for a little bit.
Lets think of the wonder of God’s love during this Christmas time?
The Christmas message of God giving us His Son Jesus can often be forgotten, and not just because of the busyness and presents. But something even more important is lost during Christmas. Something much deeper-- the wonder of God’s amazing love for us.
Maybe you were blessed with a warm, loving childhood, and the wealth of memories from Christmases past leaves you feeling full of joy and cheer.
But for many others, Christmas recalls memories that dredge up dark times and feelings of despair. The sights and sounds of Christmas may be a painful portrayal of family fights, broken promises, and loneliness. Memories may be buried but leave a trail of betrayal and hurt. But oh remember!!
"Oh, How He Loves You and Me"
Another message so often lost during Christmas is that the journey of Jesus doesn’t begin with Christmas. It began whereever time began, he always was.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1: 1-2).
Chuck Swindoll’s said last week: Jesus didn’t have to come. He was with God the Father from eternity past and yet He chose to be born in a stable and die on a cross. Why?
Love. A word we throw around so casually all the time.
So how can we even begin to grasp the power, depth, and provision of this kind of love shown to us by God?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
My challenge to you: “Do you ever just let God love you?”
Heart of Christmas is Love
This may be the real Christmas challenge, the one we forget and secretly struggle with daily. Not just that Jesus is the ‘Reason for the Season’ but that God’s love is behind it all. The warmth, the joy, the happy memories – they all come from one Source. We need to simply accept the gift of His love and let Him love us.
Yet it is one we forget so easily. And sometimes it is not just Santa that distracts us. we get wrapped up in, wrapping presents, the endless list of parties, shopping, programs and making food, cookies and candy and every other well-meaning distraction.
Because all of that still misses out on the deeper message: He didn’t have to come. But He did-- out of a deep depth of love for us. (Ephesians 3:17-19) We can not understand this kind of love. That’s a difficult message for us (me)to grasp. Even after decades of being a believer, I know I still struggle with it. Santa and worldy things are so much easier. But So is the cute little baby boy and the wonderful story of His birth.
But the real heart of Christmas is the love that started it all, way back before Mary and Joseph got turned down for a place to stay in Bethlehem.
Here's your "Christmas Challenge" for all of you who chose to accept this:
It’s the message for us to share with those around us -- especially the ones hurting who need it the most. You know---the not-so-lovables? Perhaps like the scraggly shepherds that God chose to send His angels to long ago. (Luke 2:8-20)
God wants us to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18). He wants to shake us and remind us why Jesus came at all: I LOVE YOU, He shouts! But all-too-often we can’t hear Him over Santa’s sleigh bells and carols about baby Jesus.
The Bible is a book of love, God’s desire for a love relationship with us, and the gift of His Son. How can we stretch outside our comfort zone, go beyond the commercial ‘reach out and touch someone’, and truly love someone this Christmas? (1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7-11)
Oh, and don’t forget to let the wonder of God’s miraculous love in to bless you this Christmas.
Love you all so much and praying for you all
Carolyn
As you are busy with getting ready for Christmas, I thought it would be good to just think
on the love of Jesus for a little bit.
Lets think of the wonder of God’s love during this Christmas time?
The Christmas message of God giving us His Son Jesus can often be forgotten, and not just because of the busyness and presents. But something even more important is lost during Christmas. Something much deeper-- the wonder of God’s amazing love for us.
Maybe you were blessed with a warm, loving childhood, and the wealth of memories from Christmases past leaves you feeling full of joy and cheer.
But for many others, Christmas recalls memories that dredge up dark times and feelings of despair. The sights and sounds of Christmas may be a painful portrayal of family fights, broken promises, and loneliness. Memories may be buried but leave a trail of betrayal and hurt. But oh remember!!
"Oh, How He Loves You and Me"
Another message so often lost during Christmas is that the journey of Jesus doesn’t begin with Christmas. It began whereever time began, he always was.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1: 1-2).
Chuck Swindoll’s said last week: Jesus didn’t have to come. He was with God the Father from eternity past and yet He chose to be born in a stable and die on a cross. Why?
Love. A word we throw around so casually all the time.
So how can we even begin to grasp the power, depth, and provision of this kind of love shown to us by God?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
My challenge to you: “Do you ever just let God love you?”
Heart of Christmas is Love
This may be the real Christmas challenge, the one we forget and secretly struggle with daily. Not just that Jesus is the ‘Reason for the Season’ but that God’s love is behind it all. The warmth, the joy, the happy memories – they all come from one Source. We need to simply accept the gift of His love and let Him love us.
Yet it is one we forget so easily. And sometimes it is not just Santa that distracts us. we get wrapped up in, wrapping presents, the endless list of parties, shopping, programs and making food, cookies and candy and every other well-meaning distraction.
Because all of that still misses out on the deeper message: He didn’t have to come. But He did-- out of a deep depth of love for us. (Ephesians 3:17-19) We can not understand this kind of love. That’s a difficult message for us (me)to grasp. Even after decades of being a believer, I know I still struggle with it. Santa and worldy things are so much easier. But So is the cute little baby boy and the wonderful story of His birth.
But the real heart of Christmas is the love that started it all, way back before Mary and Joseph got turned down for a place to stay in Bethlehem.
Here's your "Christmas Challenge" for all of you who chose to accept this:
It’s the message for us to share with those around us -- especially the ones hurting who need it the most. You know---the not-so-lovables? Perhaps like the scraggly shepherds that God chose to send His angels to long ago. (Luke 2:8-20)
God wants us to heal the brokenhearted and to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18). He wants to shake us and remind us why Jesus came at all: I LOVE YOU, He shouts! But all-too-often we can’t hear Him over Santa’s sleigh bells and carols about baby Jesus.
The Bible is a book of love, God’s desire for a love relationship with us, and the gift of His Son. How can we stretch outside our comfort zone, go beyond the commercial ‘reach out and touch someone’, and truly love someone this Christmas? (1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7-11)
Oh, and don’t forget to let the wonder of God’s miraculous love in to bless you this Christmas.
Love you all so much and praying for you all
Carolyn
Monday, December 6, 2010
Mary Was a Reflective Woman
“My mom used to keep a record of things that happened in our family. But it was more than just a list; it became a book for each year, (I still have them today) As I look back on it, I realize how much work that would be and how much time that must of taken her!
It’s hard to take time to reflect when we’re so busy. It seems like any spare minutes we have get filled up with email, cell phones, or texing or face book.
We can learn something important from Mary of Nazareth. The Bible tells us that after she gave birth to Jesus, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Twelve years later, when she and Joseph found Jesus talking with teachers in the temple, once more she “treasured all these things in her heart.”
In the middle of her responsibilities, Mary took time to contemplate what was happening in her life and to meditate on what God had done.
When was the last time you were quiet before God and pondered all that He was doing? I hurry to spend so much time studying but then I forget to take time to sit back each morning and look out the window and longingly seek Him.
Since we have studyed the book of Revelation together, I see the importance of this. As we begin to look to our new study, I have a question for you to ponder.
How is your spiritual love life? (the study of Rev. and the study of Ruth goes along with this!)
1)On a 1 to 10 how would you rate your concern for others?
2)Are you ready to pay the price that comes with a sincere loving concern for your sisters?
This is what the bible says: "Little Children,let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them and show it by our actions." 1 John 3:18
We will find this thread of self-sacrificing love as we dig into Ruth. I am excited please sign up and join us~!
Love to all Carolyn
“My mom used to keep a record of things that happened in our family. But it was more than just a list; it became a book for each year, (I still have them today) As I look back on it, I realize how much work that would be and how much time that must of taken her!
It’s hard to take time to reflect when we’re so busy. It seems like any spare minutes we have get filled up with email, cell phones, or texing or face book.
We can learn something important from Mary of Nazareth. The Bible tells us that after she gave birth to Jesus, “Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Twelve years later, when she and Joseph found Jesus talking with teachers in the temple, once more she “treasured all these things in her heart.”
In the middle of her responsibilities, Mary took time to contemplate what was happening in her life and to meditate on what God had done.
When was the last time you were quiet before God and pondered all that He was doing? I hurry to spend so much time studying but then I forget to take time to sit back each morning and look out the window and longingly seek Him.
Since we have studyed the book of Revelation together, I see the importance of this. As we begin to look to our new study, I have a question for you to ponder.
How is your spiritual love life? (the study of Rev. and the study of Ruth goes along with this!)
1)On a 1 to 10 how would you rate your concern for others?
2)Are you ready to pay the price that comes with a sincere loving concern for your sisters?
This is what the bible says: "Little Children,let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them and show it by our actions." 1 John 3:18
We will find this thread of self-sacrificing love as we dig into Ruth. I am excited please sign up and join us~!
Love to all Carolyn
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Monday night
Hello Ladies
I am so excited to see you all Monday night!
It is a special night filled with fellowship, food, fun and gifts.
Wonderful gifts that you all are bring. That gift that is sitting in your house
and you sure do not want it anymore. That thing that you wonder why you ever bought or someone gave you!!! Come out and join the fun, you will not be sorry.
You are to bring a salad or a dessert and your wonderful gift. See you all Monday night at 6pm. Invite or better yet, Bring someone from church that had not joined us for a while!
The Joy of the Lord is our strength!!
love you all Carolyn
I am so excited to see you all Monday night!
It is a special night filled with fellowship, food, fun and gifts.
Wonderful gifts that you all are bring. That gift that is sitting in your house
and you sure do not want it anymore. That thing that you wonder why you ever bought or someone gave you!!! Come out and join the fun, you will not be sorry.
You are to bring a salad or a dessert and your wonderful gift. See you all Monday night at 6pm. Invite or better yet, Bring someone from church that had not joined us for a while!
The Joy of the Lord is our strength!!
love you all Carolyn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)