a new year's verse and prayer ...

Christmas greetings ....

 

 

Go, Tell it on the Mountain

 

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour's birth:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

When I am a seeker,
I seek both night and day;
I seek the Lord to help me,
And He shows me the way:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

God with us ....

Emmanuel means: God with us ... and that is exactly what Jesus' Christmas name is ... GOD WITH US!  thank you LORD!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzW_PmW-LzE

the focus ....

a good thought from the Life Application bible:

"Whatever you are considering as the focus of life, Christ is better.  He is the perfect revelation of God, the final and complete sacrifice for sin, the compassionate and understanding mediator, and the only way to eternal life.  Read Hebrews and begin to see history and life from God's perspective.  Then give yourself unreservedly and completely to Christ."

"The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.  When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven."  Hebrews 1:3 NLT

expected ... yet unexpected ... expectantly waiting! ...

my family received an early Christmas present with the birth of a sweet little baby! ... my sister had a little girl!!! ... what a thrill!!! ... and she is just beautiful (babies tend to all be that way!) ...

her arrival made me think of JESUS return ... the bible speaks of a pregnant woman, and about NOT knowing the exact date/time she will deliver ... the signs are all there  - yet we do NOT know when - just that it will be soon ...  Jesus return will be just like that ...

the day my little niece was born was like any other day ... until i got the call at 1pm saying "she's here!" ... my mom said that she had called my sister that day, like every day, to see how she was feeling - and also to ask  how "little emma" was (the name was already picked out, and everyone called the unborn little one, by her name) ... well she got the surprise of her life when my sister said, i'm fine and little emma is fine too - in fact, she's right here in my arms and is just beautiful!!!!  unbeknownst to us, my sister and her hubby had gone to the hospital at 7a.m. that morning and the baby was born around noon ... mom said she was just thrilled and could hardly believe that emma was FINALLY HERE!!!!  she thought it was a dream!!!

now, we all knew my sister was pregnant ... we all knew she was in the 9th month ... we all knew that the baby would soon arrive ... even so, when she was born - it was still a HUGE (and happy) surprise!!!  even unexpected in some ways ...

yup ... I thought, that is just how JESUS return will be ... we KNOW, by the signs He gave us, that He'll return sooner than later ... yet when that soon arrives - we will still be surprised ...

that's why it is so important to not put off asking Jesus to forgive our sins and come into our lives ... to have a relationship with our Redeemer is vital ... we need to be the lights to a dieing world ... Jesus is coming ... Jesus is the HOPE ... and it will all happen when we least expect it ...

even so Lord Jesus ... COME!

the Spirit of the season ...

a reminder ...

we were watching pastor martin, from winnipeg's calvary temple last week ... he said, people get it so wrong when they say God is punishing them ... Christ paid ALL our sin debt at calvary ... so how can we be punished for it? ... however, we could be living with the consequences of  past sin ... which is different ...

i agree with him ...  God forgives our sins as far as the East is from the West ...

thank you Lord!

God has said ...

 

i took this picture on my walk the other day ... and i read this verse from Hebrews today ... i like the part about GOD HAS SAID ... since GOD has said it - then in my heart it is so ... HIS Word is one that we can count on always ... it is what it said it is ... the truth ... and this particular truth, comforts and covers me like a blanket ... blessings on your days ahead ...

lest we forget ...

reposting from 2005  ... this poem ALWAYS comes to mind on November 11th ... lest we forget ...

 

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

i remember memorizing this poem in the 4th grade ... it was written by John McCrae in 1915 ... he was a Canadian medical officer in WWI ... i can still recite the poem by heart ... it made it's impact on me ...

today i think of those who have fought for a way of life we take for granted ... lives which ended away from home and loved ones ... we should pause and remember ...

Billy Graham turns 95 today ...

Happy 95th birthday to BILLY GRAHAM!!!   on this occasion and milestone birthday - billy will be  sharing the gospel, one more time, in a video format which will be online and on many of the Christian networks as well as some Superstations and Fox news - all starting tonight (November 7th) ... every thought of billy graham's faithful walk and witness - makes me smile!!!! so today I bless him and thank God for keeping billy faithful to his calling ...

 

on a personal note ... I went up at a billy graham crusade when I was 12 years old, and that has made all the difference in my life ... the gospel was presented clearly, forcefully and God used that message in a young girl's life ... so I am thankful beyond words ...

http://watchbillygraham.ca/
http://watchbillygraham.com/

9 years of blogging ...

 

i have just celebrated my 9th anniversary in blogland ... i can't believe how the time has flown by ... *cheeky grin* ... blogging has been therapy for me, especially the first 3 years ... i started blogging in the fall of 2004, it helped ward off some of the seasonal SAD that i experience and also made me focus on writing ... more therapy!!!  AND most important, it became an outlet for my faith ... i always hoped that my blog would reflect God's glory - to say:  ya, we all have problems, but we don't have to go it alone - there is ONE who desires to help us - lift us - love us ... JESUS , the ONE who knows us completely! 

 

and i have also found a community of believers - who have prayed & encouraged me over these 9 years ... as we have followed each others journeys ... it has been a blessing ... that is why i try to hang on to my blog - tho' it seems i have time constraints re getting coherent thoughts in a post ...

 

just saying - that i have been blessed by so many ... thank you, blog buds, for the prayers over the years ... one day we will meet ...

now is the time ....

 

the bible is always telling us NOW is the time ...

what are you putting off until tomorrow?

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving ... Canadian thanksgiving that is!!  *smile* ... each day is an opportunity for us as believers in Jesus, to choose to be thankful ... to choose to see the blessings we have all around us ... and to not take friends, family, all our loved ones - for granted ... life is fleeting - let's make the air around us sweet - with the fragrance of a life that has a grateful spirit at it's core ... blessings on ya!!!

one day ...

 

during my morning walk, i was thanking the Lord for everything i saw - the beauty of the place where i live ... and a verse came to mind ... "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard the things I have prepared for those who love Me ... " ... i thought ... WOW!!!  it's going to get even better than this ... one day ... some day ... soon?

a life well lived ... is lived for Jesus ...

 

celebrating the life and mourning the passing of my uncle reino ... he became a Christian at the age of 50 ... and walked with God until called home at the age of 91 ...

proclaim the praises of HIM who called you ...

the beach scene this morning ... God's faithfulness is minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day ... HE only is worthy of our praise ...  

giving thanks ...

when i want to grumble and complain - i think it's HEALTHIER to go against the grain!  to instead - remember all the things i should be thanking GOD for ... it's a game changer ...

I've read this verse twice now, just this morning ... it was used in 2 of my devotional readings ... it encouraged me ... and made me count my blessings ... GOD has been so good to us ... and we haven't even seen the floodgates of heaven opened up yet!!!  WOW ... thank you Lord ... blessings on those who stop by ....

the night seasons ...

i took this picture of the super moon that appeared last night ... this was a 3 a.m. shot from our bedroom window ... and how the LORD does instruct in the night season as the psalmist said ... 

i miss blogging ... but it seems the well is dry at the moment ... just wanted to put in a "word" ... and to say bless those who stop by ...

be strong ... let not your heart be discouraged ...

we all have weeks that can be trying ... i'm a caregiver ... my husband is the one who deals with chronic pain ... and at times we both get tired ... on those days i need a word ...  i mean A WORD from Him who's Words are bread to the starving soul ... encouragement to the downcast ... a lifeline to the drowning man  ...

the Word that i got was from Ephesians 6:12 ...
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

i was reminded once again, that life here on earth is temporary and fleeting! ... if JESUS is our Saviour, then we are struggling with His enemy and ours, satan ... who loves to see the children of the Most High God discouraged ... but Jesus has already defeated this foe, Victory IS ours in HIM who redeemed us for Himself ... we just need to remain vigilant against attacks that are baseless and keep our spirits resting in GOD ...

yesterday morning, out of the blue, i quoted Ephesians 6:12 to leo as i was giving him his meds ... and this morning, Ephesians 6:12 was quoted in my devotional "daily light" ... coincidence?  nope - since there are no coincidences with God ... i think He gives a heads up on what really goes on during those extra tough days we may experience  ... 

may you find a Word of encouragement for your day ... i  know God has prepared one for you ... 

hold fast ...

may we all say like Job of old - that we have kept God's way and not turned aside ...

 

i've been having problems with posting pics again -  everytime i sat down to do a post - blogger would not cooperate!  so this morning, i just asked the Lord to give me a bit of wisdom - or fix whatever it was!!!  the answer may have been a combination of wisdom/fixing - 'cause i went to options, changed the html setting - and viola, i was able to download this latest poster creation ... i love when my little requests to God get that instant, "not a problem" answer ... it's something i need to remember - even tho' i may not see an instant response all the time -  my job is to stay on the right path - and  God will deal with the obstacles ...

 

blessings on your sunday!

the place of safety ...

choose joy

i've just started reading a book entitled "Choose Joy" by kay warren ... i'm sort of chuckling to myself, because it is a very appropriate read at this moment ... winter is hanging on, temperatures are way below normal and for seasonally affected folks like me - well it can be rather IKKY ...  however, joy is a choice (as i've known for a while now) - but to continually practise it can be challenging ... so i'm gonna be stretching those "choose joy" muscles in the next week ... yup yup ... the weatherman is not my friend at the moment!

EASTER VICTORY!!!!

the first Easter ... it started out sad - but ended in VICTORY!

 

thank you JESUS!

¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
John 3:15-21

thoughts from church

leo and i watch "tv church" ... leo isn't able to go sit in a pew for a service, so we get our fellowship where we can! ... charles price, from people's church in toronto, is our tv pastor ... just thought i would share a few quotes from today's message ...

You see, sometimes the very thing the devil would use to destroy you, IS the VERY thing God uses to build you and bless you.

Do what is right ... God will make it possible ...

The state of the worker is more important to God, than the state of the work ....

it's about time!

 

it's absolutely about time i wrote something!!!!  my poor neglected blog, eh ...

actually i've had problems posting pictures ... a few times i was going to write something but i cldn't get blogger to cooperate with a visual ... so i thought i would try posting from the laptop - and look at this - it worked!  my "big" computer is just not jiving  with blogger ... ? ... but i don't mind working around a problem - if that is doable ... just a life lesson -  sometimes you go around the mountain, if you can't go through or over it ... *grin*

check out this sunrise from a few weeks back ... i was sitting on the couch just amazed at God's workmanship ... it seems so personal when no one else is stirring and i seem to be the only one  who is seeing the beauty of the morning ... i sit and smile and talk to my Heavenly Father ... feeling so blessed, even though life on earth can have it's hard spots - yet God reminds me that the best is yet to be ... i will enjoy my time here, share what i've learned and leave everything else in the Hands of HIM who was there in the beginning and will be there always!

birthday reflections ...

another birthday has come and gone!!!!  i can't believe how fast the years have flown ...  it was a good birthday - i felt the love through notes, emails, phone calls from friends and family ... there were even visits (though the weather was not cooperating!!!) ...  GOD is so gracious in His dealing with me, i could cry because i KNOW i'm undeserving - but "in the Beloved" i am redeemed! ... and so thankful!

this morning as i was reflecting on life, and lessons learned through the years ... God's patience in teaching and re-teaching things ... i thought about the day yet to come ... there will be no more lessons ... no more time to learn truths here on earth ... no more testing of our faith ... because one day (soon?) God will say "put your pencils down - times up!" ... and off we will go - eternity beckons ...

The Day of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. ² For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. ³ For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. ⁸ But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

worry

i want it to become more natural for me to have faith

- than worry about anything in life ...

it is possible - we just need to practise it daily ...

for we walk by faith ... can i get an amen? !!!

bit of whimsy ...

 

i looked out the window and saw these random tire tracks in the neighbours' driveway - only they didn't look so random - they looked like hearts ... of course i snapped a pic, smiling to myself, thinking how cool ... i imagined God drawing in the snow ...

choices ...

 

there is always a choice ...

january in middle canada ...

our big heavy saturday paper didn't quite make it to our door, it had snowed last night!!!  so i swept my way to it ... notice the orange bag ... so it's not lost in the whiteness!!!

 

and as i was out there, enjoying the sparkling world - i noticed how the bushes at either side of the steps looked like unpicked cotton!  i guess i'm having arizona thoughts, since i won't be going there this winter ...

 

the cold makes sun mirages ... or sun dogs ... sometimes they look like ice rainbows ...

 

all that pristeen beauty - yet with a bitter cold edge ... a typical january day on the prairies ...

to grow ... we need to know God's word

God's answers ...

as i was driving home from the city today, i was thinking of how God answers prayer ... i was concentrating on the patch of road i could see, the wind was gusting and the snow was  making driving difficult at times ... leo had prayed that i would have "clear sailing" coming home - and it WAS clear sailing ... just not in the way we thought ... God gave me travel mercies by granting me peace, safety and the absence of fear ... i am a very fearful winter driver (7 accidents in the snow have left a mark!), so the calm i felt as i navigated the dreaded winter white out conditions, was a very real answer to the prayers of others ... instead of changing the situation - God changed my heart ...

thank you JESUS ...