Happy Birthday Jesus!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS on this day, the day we celebrate You being born.  God who became a man and took on human flesh.  We celebrate Who You are...
You are:
Jesse's Branch- Isaiah 11:1-4
Jesus -Matthew 1:21
Savior-1 John 4:14
Son of God- Luke 1:32-35
Son of Man-Matthew 18:11
Redeemer-Job 19:25
King of Kings -1 Timothy 6:14-15
Lord of Lords-1 Timothy 6:14-15
Bread of Heaven-John 6:51
I Am-Exodus 3:14
Alpha and Omega-Revelation 1:8
The Word- John 1:1
The Way, The Truth, The Life- John 14:6
Lamb of God- John 1:29
The Door- John 10:7-10
Good Shepherd-John 10:11
The Deliverer-Romans 11:26
Friend-John 15:15
My Beloved-Song of Solomon 7:10
Bridegroom-Isaiah 62:5
Faithful Witness- Revelation 1:5-6
My Righteousness-1 Corinthians 1:30
Wisdom of God-1 Corinthians 1:30
Lion of Judah- Revelation 5:5

Just what I wanted for Christmas, a little early...

Yesterday morning, two hours with Him.  Bliss!  A cup of coffee, the Word, prayer, journaling...real communication, not just hurried ritual.  Then an hours brisk walk, in the cold, foggy morning, with Handel's Messiah playing on the Ipod.  How can you not love that? The foretelling of Jesus and His birth and of His future reign from the Bible set to beautiful music.  My heart feels softer, cleaner, ready for the holy day to come.  Again this morning, company coming for brunch, but first, an hour with Him.  Now, company is gone, and there's just enough time before tonight's Christmas eve festivities for a walk...Alleluia! 

Everything's ready for the Big Day...

The Jesse Branch counting down to Christmas with 25 titles of Jesus...

the last one to put on is Lion of Judah Revelation 5:5

Too much Martha, not enough Mary...

Time. Is it just me, or do you feel it too?  This month, of all months, there should be time to be a Mary. (Luke10)  There should be time to just sit at Jesus' feet, to listen to Him, to worship Him.  But, in spite of my good intentions, during December, the million and one Martha things to do just seem to snowball out of control, and the time flies, and now it's only two days until His birthday.  The Martha things are done-the cards written and mailed, the baking done, the gifts bought and wrapped.  I'm ready in that way.  But I don't want to be outwardly ready for a holiday, and not inwardly, heart ready, for a holy day.  I don't want my heart to be so full of stuff and distractions, that like the inn of long ago, Jesus finds there's just no room for Him.  But amazing God that He is, He stands at the door of my heart and knocks to be allowed entrance, (Revelation 3:20).  When I open the door and let Him in, He helps me clean out the mess to make room so He can stay. And hang out. And have fellowship. With me!  Amazing God comes in with His amazing grace and let's me know He loves me, even though I've been a little too much of a Martha this month.

John 11:5  And Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

Broken for us...

Five year old grandson spent the day with me.  He looks at the nativity, remembering the story of how Mary was broken.  "Nana, I'm glad Jesus didn't get broken." he says.  And I think to myself, oh, but He did.

"Surely He has borne our griefs, (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses), and carried our sorrows and pains (of punishment), yet we (ignorantly) considered Him stricken, smitten and afflicted by God...But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes (that wounded), Him we are healed and made whole.

 Isaiah 53:4-5 Amplified Bible

Out of the grips of self...

 

Grumbling, murmuring, complaining, faultfinding, nit picking, self-pity, self-focus, self-centeredness...it had me in it's ugly grip.  Somewhere my words of wisdom to "just keep Christmas simple, keep the main thing the main thing. keep your wits about you and your priorities straight" that I have preached to others, I felt myself failing to live up to.  The month started out so lovely, but somehow, somewhere along the way, too much busy-ness,  combined with situations that had my emotions stretched rubberband tight, made my time by my prayer bench and in the Word feel more like ritual, than reality, (I'm being painfully honest here), and I felt as though I was being buried alive in an avalanche of negative thoughts and emotions. But thank God, (those aren't just words, I really mean it, THANK GOD!), before I did too much damage to my beloved husband, I got my wits about me enough to get on my walking clothes, grab my coat, and head out into the fresh air.  And for the next hour, God and I, in the way we've done for these many, many years walked and had it out...I mean walked and talked.  And once all the "I think, I feel, I...I...I..."  talk was out, I recognized and repented of all the ugly self absorbtion, and received His grace.  And the next day, in spite of monsoon like rain, I donned my raincoat and we walked and talked again.  And now, the gratitude is returning, and the thankfulness, and the realization that I am overwhelmingly, undeservedly blessed.  Thank God.

172) A kind husband who makes his daughter coffee and breakfast whenever she's home

173) An unexpected Christmas present along with encouraging words

174) Lunch with friends

175) An encouraging text

176) Our annual tradition with the grandkids, of dipping pretzels, (and this year, peanut butter balls too, yum!) followed by baths, clean pajamas, and a ride to look at Christmas lights

177) Intercessors who we can call, or email, with prayer needs

178) A Christmas get-together with hubby's mama, sister and her family...first time Great-Grandma got to see her baby great grandaughter!

179) A great Christmas service at church with a special performance by the children

180) 84 year old mama taking hubby and I to lunch at Taco Bell, (which she loves!)

I simply remember my favorite things...today's fav.

Thank God for a husband who understands that sometimes a weary woman just needs to feel pretty...and so he insists I make an appointment today at the hair salon.

Resting in Him...

I don't know if it was because there was something different about the water, or if, at age 52 I just finally figured things out, but on our end of the summer vacation to Palm Springs, I floated.  I don't mean just floated for a minute or two  like I have while swimming in years past.  I mean, put your hands behind your head, shut your eyes, and relax so thouroughly, that you are this close to actually falling asleep in the water...it was amazing!  People watching even commented that they had never seen anything like it...it was as though I was on an invisible air mattress.  Was this a salt water pool, therefore making it more bouyant?  I don't think so, but I don't know.  But what I do know, is that I want some of that, right now.  I'm not talking about the sun, the heat, the water...I'm talking about the rest.  This December has been emotional and busy.  Lots of pastoral counseling, and things that are draining.  I need to lay back and feel God's warm love enveloping me, put my hands behind my head, shut my eyes, and rest in Him.