The Hope of Christmas

December 13, 2021 Gracie

The Hope of Christmas

We got a surprise visit the other day!

This beautiful deer showed up right behind our back fence.

an early Christmas surprise

He spotted us and froze, but then he went back to grazing.

Within minutes the rest of his herd showed up, including two playful fawns chasing each other around the pasture.

We could have watched them for hours.

Christmas deer

Christmas and deer seem to go together, don’t they?

All you have to do is look at the Christmas shelves in any retail store.

But we all know that, in truth, Christmas isn’t about Santa Claus, or the presents around the tree, or even eight tiny reindeer pulling a sleigh.

Around the holidays, as we scramble to prepare food, decorations, parties, and presents, friends or relatives may ask us, “Are you ready for Christmas?” It’s an innocent question. But now, in light of God’s self-revelation, we are a little readier to answer in earnest: Yes, I am ready. Jesus has washed me, saved me, made me new. The new life I have in Him can never fade. And now the hope of Christmas has grown into the eager expectation for His second coming, when the good news of great joy, peace, and love will reach its climax and we will truly, wonderfully live happily ever after. – Alistair Begg, Christian pastor and author.¹

From The Hope of Christmas to His Second Coming

Who are we to deserve such a precious gift as Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world?

⁹This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. ¹¹He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. ¹²But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, ¹³who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God. – John 1:9-13, (NASB).²

The Christmas season winds to a close in a few days.

Even so, Child of God, let us continue to worship and adore Him the rest of our lives.

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¹Quotation from Alistair Begg, Christian pastor, author, and founder of Truth For Life Teaching Ministry. From Web, The First Advent: Four Reasons Christ Came.” November 30, 2021., para. 23. Web. Accessed 5 December, 2021., Retrieved from https://blog.truthforlife.org/the-first-advent-four-reasons-christ-came

Our Exceptional God

Battling Your “Less Thans”

September 1, 2020 Gracie

Help When Battling Your Less Thans

battling your less thans

Do you sometimes feel “less than?”

I’m talking about every time you feel less popular, less successful, less attractive, less smart, or less “anything.”

Please stop.

I’m talking to you, my dear sister in Christ.

Cover your ears, and do your best “la la la’s“ to drown out any negative people who like to make you feel “less than” them.

No one is saying this is easy.

Battling your “less thans” gets easier with practice, but it starts with not knowing who you are, but whose you are.

Say Yes to Confidence in His Promises

Confidence when battling your less thans

Have you ever watched the TLC reality TV show, “Say Yes to the Dress?”

The show features future brides (and their wedding parties) picking out their wedding attire in preparation for the Big Day.

Occasionally I’ll tune in.

I admit, I love to look at wedding dresses!

However, there was an episode that made me sad.

The bride said she needed to buy a phenomenal dress so that she could finally feel “significant.”

Have you ever felt invisible when you’re around other people?

Ultimately, a killer dress (or anything like that) isn’t the answer.

You may feel like a nobody, but please remember this, in Christ Jesus you are so valuable to Him that He died on the cross for you.

God Uses Less Thans To Do Extraordinary Things

The Bible is full of people just like us who didn’t think they had what it takes when God called them to a task.

less thans can do extraordinary things

Remember the historical account of Queen Esther?

She was a young Hebrew maiden who, thru Godly intervention, eventually became the queen of Persia.

As intriguing as that is – God was actually putting her in place to deliver her people from destruction by the evil Haman.

All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them.– Oswald Chambers, Evangelist and Christian minister.¹

So, you may not be in line to become a heroic queen, but your life is just as important.

We are on this earth for just a short time, really.

Don’t let Satan’s attempts to make you feel worthless distract you from your confidence in our loving Father.

God hears your whispered prayers

You’ll never be lost in the crowd with Jesus.

He’s coming back some day . . . for you.

our citizenship is in Heaven

If You’re Feeling Irrelevant

Dear One,

Please never doubt the Father’s love for you.

Take time each day to realize that you are priceless – an individual with so much potential, who was created to shine His light into the lives of others.

Turn off the naysayers, slay your doubts, and transform your “less than” thoughts to a “loved-more-than-I-could-ever-know” Child of God!

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¹ Oswald Chambers quotation, as quoted from Christian quotes.info

Our Exceptional God

A Spiritual Treadmill

May 15, 2019 Gracie

Exercising Your Faith

Do any of these criticisms sound familiar?

Christians think they’re so perfect

Hypocrites!

God is aware of our suffering and trials

Verbal slams like these are often blurted out in high volume and, let’s face it, are purposely meant to be an insult.

Why do people say those things?

It’s emotionally exhausting and you may feel all alone, or like you’ve failed in your spiritual walk.

Christian, you are not alone.

God is aware of our suffering and trials.

Please never forget that.

True Christians know they are not perfect and that it’s only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ that we will be redeemed.

The Bible warns us that we would be mocked for our faith. We can’t act like we didn’t know.

So how, then, can we persevere in this upside-down world?

A recent podcast from Pastor Mike Fabarez encourages us all to continue pressing on, no matter what.

And I tell you what, no matter how you’re losing in your life right now, because you’ve stood up and maintained what the sermons have said week after week, that Right is Right and Good is Good and Bad is Bad and Sin is Sin.

When you maintain that in the world and you lose because of it, it’s not uncommon. The world is an upside-down place.

Just remember this – God says when they mess with you, when they set you back, when they ridicule you, persecute you, they’re messing with Me. There’s some comfort in that.¹ – Pastor Mike Fabarez, Focal Point Ministries

Don’t throw in the towel because being a Christian in this world of darkness is too hard.

Persevere anyway.

We have an assurance that the world doesn’t have.

spiritual treadmill

Pray For Your Enemies

Christians search the internet all the time to find out how to pray for their enemies. I see the search results every week.

Why do we have to pray for our enemies?

It seems unnatural and that’s because it is.

Only God can give us the supernatural strength that we need, in the midst of our emotional pain, to pray for our persecutors.

We must ask Him for strength.

No one said it’s going to be easy.

We are in a spiritual war with a deadly foe tracking us every hour of the day. We need to be in the best shape possible to cope with the darts and arrows he hurls our way. Flabby, overindulged, pampered Christians just don’t have the stamina to fight this battle. Thus, the Lord puts us on a spiritual treadmill every now and then to keep us in good fighting condition.²– Dr. James Dobson. [Newsletter, April 2019].

A Spiritual Treadmill

We’re on a “spiritual treadmill” – I like that analogy.

At the end of the day, even if it feels like a horrible day, remember to Whom you belong.

Keep on pressing forward, and pray for God to guide your steps.

You are who God says you are, not who your persecutor says you are.

It can help to memorize what John told the believers in 1 John 3:1, ESV. –

the reason why the world does not know us

Child of God, have courage!

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¹ From Fabarez, Pastor Mike, host. “Why is There Evil in the World.” Podcast, [20:19]. One Place Ministries, May 10, 2019. www.oneplace.com/2019/ https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/focal-point/listen/.

² From Dr. James Dobson, Family Talk. [Newsletter]. Retrieved from https://drjamesdobson.org/about/april-newsletter-2019?sc=FEM&mc=FEM0419NL&utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_campaign=20190404%20Newsletter%20(FEM0419NL)%20(3)&spMailingID=21287810&spUserID=MzA5NTY5NTAzNDUS1&spJobID=1480209475&spReportId=MTQ4MDIwOTQ3NQS2 /April 10, 2019).

Our Exceptional God

More Than You Know

July 18, 2018 Gracie

HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW

Does God care about me

Are you struggling right now, feeling lost and hopeless?

Do you wonder if God even cares about you?

Atheists will tell you that He doesn’t even exist.

Agnostics offer no hope for the Eternal because they don’t have any themselves.

Don’t let the negativity of those who have no hope, destroy yours.

Why?

Because He does love and care about you.

Please take a moment and think about this.

more than you know

The kind of love the Father has for you is immeasurable.

That’s countless light-years further than “To the moon and back,” for all you bedtime-story-reading parents out there.

Psalm 86, a beautiful prayer of David, reminds of the holiness and greatness of our God.

⁴Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
⁵For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. – Psalm 86:4-5, (ESV).

His love is steadfast and unchanging. In fact, He can’t love you any more than He does right now.

There’s a song called “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”, that was written by Stuart Townend.

Recently, I found a lovely version from Cameron and Kelly.

Do you need some encouragement today?

If you can, close your eyes, listen closely to the lyrics, and let them sink in.

He loves you more than you know.

Be encouraged.

You are a child of God. ♥

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Our Exceptional God

A Woman of Grace

July 25, 2016 Gracie

Have you ever met someone you would describe as a woman of grace?

I am blessed to say, “Yes!”

This extraordinary woman was my mother-in-law, Jane.

She’s in heaven now, but my husband and I think about her a lot. I have so many fond memories of visiting my in-laws at their home in California.

Bird of Paradise flower

Whenever I see a Bird of Paradise flower, I think of those fun visits. My in-laws had several blooms planted near the front steps of their home.

Speaking of beautiful, we have a gorgeous, smiling, picture of Jane in her wedding dress featured on a wall in our home. By all standards of beauty, my mother-in-law was a knockout, but her beauty was more than skin-deep as she was also one of the kindest women I have ever met.

To me, Jane was the epitome of grace. Her strong faith spoke volumes to me as I began my faith walk so long ago. She truly knew how to delight in God.

I came across a lovely poem recently that reminded me of my mother-in-law. These meaningful words celebrate ALL women living grace, and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Please enjoy.

A Woman living Grace

by Elizabeth Hexberg
01/22/12

May I be that ray of sunlight,
when the sky is overcast.
A petal from His Roses,
with fragrance made to last.
A hint of coming rainbows,
in the darkest Winter Storm,
and the softest pink horizon
to remind you of the Dawn.

Seeking out the wonderful,
with laughter on my face.
But most of all I pray to be,
A woman living Grace.

A child of God.
Friend to all.
Ever Loving heart.
Live my life with courage,
My God how Great Thou Art.
Dance to every melody.
Sing to every song.
Be the one to help you know
He Loved you all along.

Someday to help you see it too,
find a safer place.
But most of all I pray to be,
A woman living Grace.

May I be the one who never said,
‘I told you so my friend’.
May I be the one who always cared
beginning to the end.
The one who saw the good in all,
walked the extra mile.
Saw the Magic of His Plan,
and never lost her smile.

A hand to hold, when life grows old,
to finish up this race.
But most of all I pray to be,
A woman living Grace.

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Christian Poetry

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