A gift of Love

I have always loved Nativity scenes ever since I was a boy. I remember growing up seeing the great care my Grandma always took unwrapping ours. She would gently lift each ceramic statue out of the box and lovingly arrange them in the tiny, wooden barn. The baby Jesus was always the last one lifted out and she would always smile before placing Him in the manger.

It was at another manger too that I saw the most beautiful picture of the real meaning of Christmas. This was years ago when public Nativity scenes were everywhere at Christmastime. It was before the fear of offending others made most of them sadly disappear from parks and town squares. I remember taking a moment to look at one of these public Nativity scenes during a cold, December day. A snow was gently falling on each of the statues and even in the manger.

About this time a mother walked up with her young son. The boy couldn’t have been more than three years old. As they too stopped to stare at the beautiful sight the little boy removed his scarf and walked over to the Nativity. Then he folded it and placed it over the manger. He smiled as he walked back and said, “Baby Jesus looked cold.” I thought that his mother would make him go back and retrieve the scarf, but thankfully she was made of wiser stuff than me at that time. She just smiled, wiped away a tear, and kissed her son on top of his head. Then leaving his gift of love, they slowly walked down the snow covered street together while the boy happily sang all the words he knew to “Silent Night.”

It took a lot of years for me to grow as wise as that child, but when I did I realized that Christmas truly is about Love. It is about a love that is both joyfully shared and unconditional. It is about a love that sacrifices, cares, and gives. It is about loving each other just as much as God loves us at Christmastime and always.

( by Joseph M)

Its not because of me, but Him

I am mentioning some reflections on God, that I had today.

Today, we conducted Children's day celebration in our church. During that time, I too got a prize congratulating me for the university rank I got. My mom heads that committee which decided the prize distribution. I was embarrassed. One thing was, all other people got prizes for winning in some competition or the other, but I got for my studies. Another thing was, since my mom headed that committee, giving the prize to me will lead people to think that my mom is trying to bring me to the forefront in that committee. So I asked my mother, why she gave me that prize and embarrassed me in front of so many people.

She said, "Who gave you the prize to praise YOU? We are glorifying what God has done through you. Am not praising you but GOD! I want people to know that when you spend time for God(I play on the keyboard for my church choir), you lose nothing worthwhile in life( because many thought it will be a distraction for my studies, but what happened was quite the opposite, music helped me relax and help me focus on my studies.) "

That answer taught me so many things. Yes, my mom was right. Though I praised and thanked God for giving me that University rank, I was also sure that it happened because I obeyed God. When he asked me to study, I studied, When he asked me to go to church, I went. So, I assumed I got the university rank because of my obedience and God's grace. I never said, I got the university rank on my own, but I was sure that it was a combination of both our efforts, God's and mine.

But my mom's answer made me think. Yes, God helped me get that rank and I obeyed and all. But God could have chosen ANYONE to do that. That 'anyone' would have also 'obeyed' God and would have got a rank. So far, I was glad that God chose me, now I am grateful that God chose me, when he could have chosen anyone. I look back at those four years of my Under Graduation, and I see what a tough time I've given God. He had to pursue me all the time and make me study, when all I wanted to was to go to sleep all day. He had to help me concentrate in class when my mind was distracted by other things. He had to make a stubborn child play on the keyboard when she wanted to just surf aimlessly. He really had a tough time helping me those days. If he had chosen that 'anyone', perhaps, he wouldn't have had such a tough time.

What made him choose me then? I have no answer. I don't need to know. All that matters for now, is that he could have chosen ANYONE.

I realize that my university rank was not because of me, it was because of Him, Him ONLY. If that applies to my university rank, it applies to every area of my life. Today, someone said I played beautifully on the keyboard. That too, is not because of me. God could have trained ANYONE to play on the keyboard. (I know of many people who would love to play for the choir, and God gave me that opportunity which they didn't get. )

I will say that this was a great lesson in humility. It did come upon me hardly, but it was a lesson I needed. There is nothing we can boast of, nothing we have done or accomplished in life that we can be proud of. As St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 "If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord."

All praise and glory be to Him ONLY!

Learn to stand alone with God

There comes a time when you must stand alone.

You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams.

You must be willing to make sacrifices.

You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved.

Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.

There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities.

Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better.

Then God will call you to make other peoples’ life better and prosperous.

Be confident enough that you won’t settle for a compromise just to get by, but have depth.

Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself to open to the opportunities to grow, develop, learn, nourished because all those moments are God given.

Since God is precious, the chances He gives are also precious.

(from turnbacktogod.com)

God uses imperfect people

Has God been asking you to do something for Him yet you have been dismissing yourself because of your imperfections? Have you been wondering “Who am I that God should use me?” If so, understand that God uses imperfect and insignificant people to achieve His perfect and significant plans if they cooperate with Him.

God used Gideon (Judges 6-7) who was fearfully threshing wheat in a winepress to lead an army of 300 to defeat Israel’s enemies who were as numerous as locusts. This was the Gideon who said he was unqualified to save Israel because his clan was the weakest and he was the least important person in his father’s house. But God already knew this when He chose him as Commander in Chief and He promised to be with him.

Therefore don’t let your low self esteem or low socio-economic status or the challenge’s magnitude stop you doing God bidding. Understand that when you are “weak”, then God is strong on your behalf and let Him work on you and on your weaknesses as you work on His job and fulfill your life’s purpose. Recognize also that Gideon’s fear did not flee overnight. He kept asking God for signs and God kept providing them until the point when Gideon truly believed that he could do it and he went and did it with God’s help.

God also used Moses who looked at his qualifications and present life situation as a shepherd in a desert and asked God who he was that he should tell Pharaoh to release the Israelites (Ex. 3:11). Moses also told God that he wasn’t an eloquent speaker as he stammered but God knew this when He chose Him and He promised He’d be with him, help him speak and teach him what to say (Ex. 4:10). Therefore, don’t disqualify yourself because you lack qualifications. God’s presence in your life is all the qualifications you need to fulfill His purposes and your life’s purpose.

Jesus used Simon Peter to lead His Church after His ascension despite Simon denying Him three times (Lk. 22:54-62). Therefore, even if you have made many mistakes, don’t write yourself off because God has not written you off. Repent and He will restore you and use you just as He restored and used Simon Peter (Jn. 21:15-17).

In conclusion, cooperate with God by believing that He knows what He put in you when He created you and don’t disqualify yourself from fulfilling your life’s purpose because of your real or perceived flaws or because of other people’s opinions (true or false) of your capabilities or lack thereof. Remind yourself of imperfect Jonah who after realizing he couldn’t run from God, finally went to evil Nineveh, preached and the whole city repented (Jonah 3).

So feeling imperfect? Trust our Lord. He will use you soon.

( by Dr. Miriam Kinai, from turnbacktogod.com)

A Thankful Heart…

People are like stained-glass windows

They sparkle and shine when the sun is out

But when the darkness sets in

Their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.

I will bless the Lord at all times. (Psalm 34:1)

David said, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

A thankful heart should be a way of life.

But did you know it can save your life? When Jonah ended up inside the whale he told God, "I will sacrifice to You with... thanksgiving" (Jonah 2:9) even though he was frightened and had no clue what the future held in store for him! And when he did God rescued him. When you're down in the pits and all hell's breaking loose around you when life is dark and you cannot see one step ahead... - that's when you need to raise your voice and praise God. Nothing demonstrates real trust like thanking Him when you're in the throes of crisis.

A thankful heart does two things:

(1) Builds your faith.

The reason we can walk by faith and not by sight (See 2 Corinthians 5:7) is because we know that, regardless of the circumstances, God is working on our behalf. David said, "Magnify the Lord with me!" (Psalm 34:3). Praise acts like a magnifying glass; it helps you see that God is bigger than your problem. What changes? Your focus changes! Instead of dwelling on the problem and getting discouraged, your faith is released and you begin looking to God for solutions. And a believing heart will recognize and receive those solutions faster than a doubting one.

(2) Restores life.

Before raising Lazarus from the dead Jesus looked up to Heaven and said, "Father... thank You that You have heard Me" (John 11:41). Something amazing happens when you start thanking God in advance for saving you, protecting you, and providing for you. Your faith begins to soar and you gain the confidence to command those things in your life that you thought were dead to live again.

Thank God today!

(by Irma Raymond)

Here's a beautiful song by Don Moen... Its called 'With a thankful heart'. The lyrics are truly meaningful.

Lyrics

With a thankful heart
And a song of praise
We've come to You
Gathered in this place
For the things You've done
And for who You are
We worship You
With a thankful heart

So we lift up our praise
And we lift up out sacrifice to You
Lord we offer our prayers
And we offer our lives in gratitude
For all You do
We worship You
With a thankful heart

With a thankful heart
We will give You praise
You've been so good
Covered us with grace
You have been our strength
In a time so dark
So we worship You
With a thankful heart

I have more reasons to thank God this day... After two and a half years of patience and waiting, God is finally showing me the keyboard I've got to buy.

Thank you Jesus!!!

You are still in His hands!

All things in life are temporary.

If going well, enjoy – they won’t last forever.

If going wrong, don’t worry- won’t last forever either!

As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand. (Jeremiah 18:6)

Jeremiah was told by God to go down to the potter's house and see how he makes his vessels:

"The jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so [the potter] crushed it into a lump of clay... and started over" (Jeremiah 18:4). Who crushed it? The potter! Why did he crush it? To make something better out of it!

Here's the good news: life may have crushed you, but you're still in God's hands! Your family and friends may think you're beyond repair but God doesn't, and His opinion makes the difference. Your life may seem to be out of control today, but in reality you're still on the potter's wheel.

"As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand."

One day a friend of Michelangelo saw him working on a piece of marble he'd found on a waste dump near Rome . When he asked the master sculptor what he was doing he replied: "There's an angel inside and I'm going to bring him out." How wonderful! From a piece of reject marble to a priceless work of art. That's what our God does!

When Jesus called His disciples He said: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). You are not born qualified - you become qualified. How? By spending time with Jesus!

So stay where the Lord has you today and let Him keep working on you. Tomorrow you'll be glad you did.

( by Irma Raymond)

Behind the Shower Curtain…

Every Saint has a PAST

Every Sinner has a FUTURE!

Have a SPIRIT-led PRESENT!

I’m going to have to install a computer in my shower. That’s where I have my best thoughts.

I had a great one today.

I was mulling over a recent conversation I had with a disenchanted Christian brother. He was upset with me. So upset that he was considering rescinding his invitation for me to speak to his group. Seems he’d heard I was pretty open about who I have fellowship with. He’d read the words I wrote: “If God calls a person his child, shouldn’t I call him my brother?” And, “If God accepts others with their errors and misinterpretations, shouldn’t we?”

He didn’t like that. “Carrying it a bit too far,” he told me. “Fences are necessary,” he explained. “Scriptures are clear on such matters.” He read me a few and then urged me to be careful to whom I give grace.

“I don’t give it,” I assured. “I only spotlight where God already has.”

Didn’t seem to satisfy him. I offered to bow out of the engagement (the break would be nice), but he softened and told me to come after all.

That’s where I’m going today. That’s why I was thinking about him in the shower. And that’s why I need a waterproof computer. I had a great thought. A why-didn’t-I-think-to-say-that? insight.

I hope to see him today. If the subject resurfaces, I’ll say it. But in case it doesn’t, I’ll say it to you. (It’s too good to waste.) Just one sentence:

I’ve never been surprised by God’s judgment, but I’m still stunned by his grace.

God’s judgment has never been a problem for me. In fact, it always seemed right. Lightning bolts on Sodom . Fire on Gomorrah . Good job, God. Egyptians swallowed in the Red Sea . They had it coming. Forty years of wandering to loosen the stiff necks of the Israelites? Would’ve done it myself. Ananias and Sapphira? You bet.

Discipline is easy for me to swallow. Logical to assimilate. Manageable and appropriate.

But God’s grace? Anything but.

Examples? How much time do you have?

David the psalmist becomes David the voyeur, but by God’s grace becomes David the psalmist again.

Peter denied Christ before he preached Christ.

Zacchaeus, the crook. The cleanest part of his life was the money he’d laundered. But Jesus still had time for him.

The thief on the cross: hell-bent and hung-out-to-die one minute, heaven-bound and smiling the next.

Story after story. Prayer after prayer. Surprise after surprise.

Seems that God is looking more for ways to get us home than for ways to keep us out. I challenge you to find one soul who came to God seeking grace and did not find it. Search the pages. Read the stories. Envision the encounters. Find one person who came seeking a second chance and left with a stern lecture. I dare you. Search.

You won’t find it.

You will find a strayed sheep on the other side of the creek. He’s lost. He knows it. He’s stuck and embarrassed. What will the other sheep say? What will the shepherd say?

You will find a shepherd who finds him. (Luke 15:3-7)

Oh boy. Duck down. Put hooves over the eyes. The belt is about to fly. But the belt is never felt. Just hands. Large, open hands reaching under his body and lifting the sheep up, up, up until he’s placed upon the shepherd’s shoulders. He’s carried back to the flock and given a party! “Cut the grass and comb the wool,” he announces. “We are going to have a celebration!”

The other sheep shake their heads in disbelief. Just like we will. At our party. When we get home. When we watch the Shepherd shoulder into our midst one unlikely soul after another.

Seems to me God gives a lot more grace than we’d ever imagine.

We could do the same.

I’m not for watering down the truth or compromising the gospel. But if a fellow with a pure heart calls God Father, can’t I call that same man Brother? If God doesn’t make doctrinal perfection a requirement for family membership, should I?

And if we never agree, can’t we agree to disagree? If God can tolerate my mistakes, can’t I tolerate the mistakes of others? If God can overlook my errors, can’t I overlook the errors of others? If God allows me with my foibles and failures to call him Father, shouldn’t I extend the same grace to others?

One thing’s for sure. When we get to heaven, we’ll be surprised at some of the folks we see. And some of them will be surprised to see us.

( by Max Lucado)