And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7
O.K. girls, be honest - are you as exhausted as I am? Here it is two days before Christmas, and I feel like I'm ready for a long-winter's nap! I must say, I do love this time of year. Last night I pulled down some old photo albums, and was looking at the pictures of Christmas' past when my boys were younger. Needless to say I was brought to tears as I reflected on those special times.
I remember one particular Christmas - Caleb must have been five or six years old. He'd gone shopping for his family in the Santa Shop at school. As I picked him up that day he was so excited about a gift he'd bought for me. He talked about this "surprise" all the way home, and even told me that if I wanted, he'd let me have it as an early Christmas present. Needless to say he was a little disappointed when I told him no, let's wait for Christmas day and I'd unwrap it then. So, Christmas day finally arrived, and as we went to open gifts, Caleb wanted me to open mine first. Inside the wrapping was a small crystal teddy bear. It probably cost him $3 or $4 at most, but to him (and to me) it was a priceless treasure. I still have that teddy bear sitting on my computer stand, and each time I look at it I remember that Christmas day.
I'm sure we all have found memories of a particular Christmas gift, whether it be one we have given or have received. But let's just pause for a moment and reflect on the perfect Christmas gift ever given. Of course you know I'm talking about God's gift to us, Jesus. God could have given us His gift in rich fancy, shiny wrapping. After all, He was born a King, but instead, this gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes were strips of cloth that the Hebrew women would wrap their babies in to help the baby's body grow straight. It also helped prevent SIDS. The mother would wash her newborn with salt water, anoint him with oil, and then wrap him in the strips of cloth.
Let's take a moment to carefully unwrap this precious gift that God has given to us. In it we find first of all love, but then mercy, and grace, and best of all salvation - eternal life for all who believe in Him. All these things rolled up into one - Immanuel, God with us - Jesus. Oh, what a beautiful gift our Father has given us.
But we can't leave this gift wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. No, God's perfect gift lived a perfect life, "humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." He died a humiliating and painful death for you and for me. God the Father highly exalted Him. He is now our risen Lord, and He lives and reigns forever!
So, I challenge you, on Christmas morning as you unwrap your gifts, take time to thank God for the perfect gift that He's given to mankind. Take a closer look at the Gift that He gave, wrapped in the swaddling clothes.
On behalf of the Venture Women's Ministry, I wish you and your family a very blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Donna
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
My plans or His plans?
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
I know, I know, many of you are thinking, "I've known that verse since I was a child!" Well, I haven't known it long, and don't know if I've ever thought too much about it, even though it's one we hear quoted often. It came to me in a powerful way today. I had actually planned to write about my foray into the book, Radical, (for those of you who haven't read it...read it, it will change your thought life for sure, but hopefully your actions as well), but apparently God had different plans for this blog!
Anywhooo, I have had one of those days! I should have known something was up last night when I couldn't sleep and thought, "I should get up and work on my blog entry", then thought, "I'll do it tomorrow morning when everyone is out of the house". Well, that plan went right out the window. I have been on the RUN all day. Here's a little background.
I have been mentoring a young girl for almost a year now. I had never planned to mentor a teenager, (by God's grace we have gotten through the teen years with 2 daughters; and one son to go...I was almost home-free!) but need I say it, God had different plans. It's been an incredible blessing to me, my family and hopefully to this young lady. Anyway, she has really struggled this year; first with drugs and alcohol, then academically (it's hard to pass your classes when you are on drugs, in jail or in the hospital). Praise God, she has passed drug tests that have been administered to her in the last couple of months, but academically is still struggling some. Long story short, the feeling was that she would be better served by earning her High School Diploma through Adult High School. Well, today was the last day to take the placement test for that, but in order to take the placement test, she had to be discharged from public school (run, run), get her dad's signature and the school superintendent's signature (run, run) then show up at 5 to take a test from 6-8pm (run, run). Well, we did what we had to do, but she did not pass the test! She is so disappointed and embarrassed and full of "should haves and could haves". I didn't know what to say to her! Was all the running and maneuvering for nothing? Did we make a mistake? I told her that I wasn't sure why things turned out the way that they did, but God had a plan for her. He would use the situation ultimately for her good - she may not be able to see it now, but I was sure of it. She wasn't a failure or a loser (this was part of her self-recrimination). Sometimes, many times, things don't turn out the way we planned, but God is still in control and if she would embrace that, learn from it and move on, He would do great things in her life! He has a plan...an awesome plan!
As I got ready to write this blog, Jeremiah 29:11 came to me! I knew vaguely what it said, but not fully. How can I encourage others in God's Word, if I don't know it? This has shown me (again) how important scripture memorization is. If we hide God's word in our hearts, He will give it to us when we need it most. Our plans don't always work out, but God's plan always does!
Here's my new plan...learn and memorize His word, after all, that's part of His plan for me!
I know, I know, many of you are thinking, "I've known that verse since I was a child!" Well, I haven't known it long, and don't know if I've ever thought too much about it, even though it's one we hear quoted often. It came to me in a powerful way today. I had actually planned to write about my foray into the book, Radical, (for those of you who haven't read it...read it, it will change your thought life for sure, but hopefully your actions as well), but apparently God had different plans for this blog!
Anywhooo, I have had one of those days! I should have known something was up last night when I couldn't sleep and thought, "I should get up and work on my blog entry", then thought, "I'll do it tomorrow morning when everyone is out of the house". Well, that plan went right out the window. I have been on the RUN all day. Here's a little background.
I have been mentoring a young girl for almost a year now. I had never planned to mentor a teenager, (by God's grace we have gotten through the teen years with 2 daughters; and one son to go...I was almost home-free!) but need I say it, God had different plans. It's been an incredible blessing to me, my family and hopefully to this young lady. Anyway, she has really struggled this year; first with drugs and alcohol, then academically (it's hard to pass your classes when you are on drugs, in jail or in the hospital). Praise God, she has passed drug tests that have been administered to her in the last couple of months, but academically is still struggling some. Long story short, the feeling was that she would be better served by earning her High School Diploma through Adult High School. Well, today was the last day to take the placement test for that, but in order to take the placement test, she had to be discharged from public school (run, run), get her dad's signature and the school superintendent's signature (run, run) then show up at 5 to take a test from 6-8pm (run, run). Well, we did what we had to do, but she did not pass the test! She is so disappointed and embarrassed and full of "should haves and could haves". I didn't know what to say to her! Was all the running and maneuvering for nothing? Did we make a mistake? I told her that I wasn't sure why things turned out the way that they did, but God had a plan for her. He would use the situation ultimately for her good - she may not be able to see it now, but I was sure of it. She wasn't a failure or a loser (this was part of her self-recrimination). Sometimes, many times, things don't turn out the way we planned, but God is still in control and if she would embrace that, learn from it and move on, He would do great things in her life! He has a plan...an awesome plan!
As I got ready to write this blog, Jeremiah 29:11 came to me! I knew vaguely what it said, but not fully. How can I encourage others in God's Word, if I don't know it? This has shown me (again) how important scripture memorization is. If we hide God's word in our hearts, He will give it to us when we need it most. Our plans don't always work out, but God's plan always does!
Here's my new plan...learn and memorize His word, after all, that's part of His plan for me!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
December 4, 2010
Turn Your Heart Toward Jesus...More!
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrew 12:28
Hope you are embracing this Christmas season with an awesome view of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
As 2010 comes to an end, I have found myself in a time of reflection. This is usually experienced at the first of the New Year. But none the less, reflection time has begun with an increasing awareness of God's love, grace, and mercy. Honest reflection revealed that too many things have interrupted my awareness of Jesus. This year's spiritual struggles brought me to a realization that I had lost my awesome view of Jesus and the reality of that shook me to the core of my heart!
BUT, our amazing and most loving, gracious, and merciful Lord took pity on me and has begun to renew my heart with a more awesome view of Him. While I have experienced spiritual ups and downs; the Lord is leading me to confidently persevere in Him and live for Him with a much more awesome view of Him. It has been evident that in 2010 the love and patience of Jesus Christ toward me has been abundant.
It has become clear that having an “awesome view of Jesus” ensures that He will dominate everything I do. It gives me an awareness of His heart in everything and everywhere He leads me. It will keep the right focus on what I do being all about who He is. It want be the doing that will be the consuming fire, it will be JESUS!
This is what the Lord is calling me to, a renewed awesome view of Him that leads my heart to be consumed with His heart. I’m not waiting till the first of 2011; I’m yielding this minute to His leading to turn my heart toward Him MORE! And what’s more, He is leading me to invite YOU!
In 2011, our Women's Ministry's motto is "Turn Your Heart Toward Jesus...More!" and our scripture reference is:
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrew 12:28
What a powerful verse to memorize and meditate on. May each of us seek to have an “awesome view of Jesus” and for HIM to become a consuming fire within our hearts?
Turn Your Heart Toward Jesus...More!
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrew 12:28
Hope you are embracing this Christmas season with an awesome view of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
As 2010 comes to an end, I have found myself in a time of reflection. This is usually experienced at the first of the New Year. But none the less, reflection time has begun with an increasing awareness of God's love, grace, and mercy. Honest reflection revealed that too many things have interrupted my awareness of Jesus. This year's spiritual struggles brought me to a realization that I had lost my awesome view of Jesus and the reality of that shook me to the core of my heart!
BUT, our amazing and most loving, gracious, and merciful Lord took pity on me and has begun to renew my heart with a more awesome view of Him. While I have experienced spiritual ups and downs; the Lord is leading me to confidently persevere in Him and live for Him with a much more awesome view of Him. It has been evident that in 2010 the love and patience of Jesus Christ toward me has been abundant.
It has become clear that having an “awesome view of Jesus” ensures that He will dominate everything I do. It gives me an awareness of His heart in everything and everywhere He leads me. It will keep the right focus on what I do being all about who He is. It want be the doing that will be the consuming fire, it will be JESUS!
This is what the Lord is calling me to, a renewed awesome view of Him that leads my heart to be consumed with His heart. I’m not waiting till the first of 2011; I’m yielding this minute to His leading to turn my heart toward Him MORE! And what’s more, He is leading me to invite YOU!
In 2011, our Women's Ministry's motto is "Turn Your Heart Toward Jesus...More!" and our scripture reference is:
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrew 12:28
What a powerful verse to memorize and meditate on. May each of us seek to have an “awesome view of Jesus” and for HIM to become a consuming fire within our hearts?
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