There IS Hope...

I love the Biblical accounts of Mary as she was being filled with the Lord...her journey...her obedience...Josephs obedience!  What an awesome testimony and heritage she left for the world...being found righteous in the sight of the God Almighty. God had an Awesome plan laid for Mary and Joseph's life.  He has a plan for each of us as well...each one just as important as Mary and Joseph's, for it is the same.  The call to follow Him...to show His Love and Grace to those around us...to teach our Children about His great Love and Sacrifice...to be Obedient in walking after His ways, with His character and His heart of compassion.

 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."Jeremiah 29:11-13

I am not always obedient, not even in the little things sometimes, but I know that God is merciful, and if I am seeking Him, He will change this heart of mine into a willing and obedient heart, that He may find pleasure in my actions. Meanwhile, I thank the Lord for the 'hope and future' that He has orchestrated for me, and YOU, as followers of Christ. This year, I am being intentional to enjoy the Christmas Season.  I have a wonderful family around me, whether immediate, extended or my family of friends and I am rejoicing before the Lord for the Symphony of people he orchestrates in my life! 

Take time to thank the Lord for being Jesus (Saviour), Emmanuel (God With Us), today.  Even when Life is difficult and despairing, he IS with us. It's WHO and WHY He IS.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Intentionality

Intentionality...to be purposeful on purpose. This is how I defined Intentional to my children today as we discussed Christmas.  I asked them "Why do we celebrate Christmas." They answered "to honor Christ's birth."  I then asked them "What do we do to honor Christ's birth?"  And they reminded me how we read the Biblical account of the birth of Christ, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and even have a birthday cake.  Then I posed yet another question..."How many times do we do that during the Christmas season?"

ONCE, on Christmas!

Being intentional about not participating in the secular bustle of Christmas, has NOT, by default, made us intentional about celebrating and honoring the birth of our Saviour, Jesus. Sure, we talk about Jesus...but that is NORMAL in our home.  It is our daily conversation.  We try to focus on others and how we can bless them with gifts instead of making lists and being self centered during this season. BUT, we have to purposefully make a choice to be purposeful! We must choose to, on purpose, honor Christ. As a parent, I want to have traditions that kindle a flame for Christ...middle ground is gray, stagnant water and can lull us to sleep!

This year we have been brainstorming ways we can be intentional about honoring Christ this season...what that means and how to tangibly remember the Awesome God we serve. I know as we seek to bring honor to Jesus, he will show us how!

I am still learning. I don't care for the middle ground. I am pressing in.  As I draw near to God...He chastens me.  He burns away the chafe. He purifies me more...and yet I see my need for Him grow stronger.

What Do I LOOK Like?

The last couple of days I have been drenched in the presence of a Holy and Loving God.  He has allowed me the privilege of praying for people I know, and even those I do not.  I have been reading a great book...it's been stepping on my toes, but that is good, too. I have been reading one of my favorite blogs.

In all these different avenues of my life...God is speaking to me. Showing me new things. Building a heart of compassion in me.  I am seeing differently. Feeling differently. Wanting to LOOK differently.

I have so many whispers in my heart from God.  So many seeds that want to grow, and are...little by little. I have come so far in my walk, yet I have so far to go. I fail. I get up. The Lord gingerly whispers again to my spirit.

I am pondering the holidays quickly approaching. Thanksgiving...Christmas...A New Year...What do I look like to those who spend time with me, even if for the minutest moment?  Do I look different from the masses?  Do I show God's splendor in my expressions? Does my Home point to the creator?  Do people See JESUS when they see me, or do they see hypocrisy?  Of course there is a little of that in everyone...we are after all, human and in being so...we are less than perfect.  Do I talk the talk and forget my walk? Do I live out my passions, convictions or just talk about them? 

The upcoming holidays have struck a chord in me.  I want them to look different.  I want them to be MORE than the shoe box we pack for a few children.  More than buying gifts for people who have everything they could possibly need or want.  More than just reading the birth of Christ from the Bible or saying our thanks to the All Powerful God of the Universe around the Thanksgiving meal.  More than empty Resolutions for the coming New Year.  I want to DO more.  I want to LOOK different. I don't know how to do that...people already think we're weird... No Santa...No Tree...No Stockings....but that is just the baby steps to what God is laying on my heart. I want to be INTENTIONAL.

Lord, use this vessel.  Pour into me what you would have me pour out to others.  Change my countenance like you changed Moses' when he radiated as he descended the mountain from being in Your presence. May I walk in your presence and look to you for ALL things.