Declare His Goodness

Good morning Lord...

Thank You that You are faithful...My hope is in YOU. You are true and a keeper of Your promises. Your WORD does not fail. Your lovingkindness leads me to repentance. You are HOLY! You are the One true God.

My heart rejoices this morning in You. You are on my side. I am triumphant because You are my God. I will declare Your work and love in my life. You are my shield, You are my defender, You are my hope, You are my salvation. Who in heaven do I have besides You?

Blessed is Your name. You are my God...I will praise You. You formed me, You designed me, You've rescued me, You are always thinking about me, You are the giver of my dreams, the fulfiller of my desires.

I will lift up my head because I know my help comes from You. You are my protector, my teacher, my everything. You bring light to the dark areas of my life. I will sing to you my whole life. You are my greatest encourager. I will ever sing for joy!

What Can I Give Him?

The Christmas season is upon us...it is a season of giving, of love, of hope and of miracles. We give gifts to our loved ones, we spend precious time with family and friends and we believe and expect for the newness and wonder the New Year will bring.

A tradition our family has had over the years that we started when the boys were young is to make a birthday cake for Jesus. It sounds childlike maybe, but we always want our sons to remember the reason we are giving. Russ always says to them...how would you like people to come to your birthday party and give gifts to each other and have nothing for you? It doesn't make any sense at all! So, we take some time to pause and practically remember WHO we are celebrating. And what are we giving to Jesus this Christmas...what does HE really want?

Yesterday I was taken back to a Christmas many years ago when Russ was in Bible School. It was our second year in Nova Scotia and all of our finances were depleted. We were truly living on faith...each week wondering how we would feed our boys. One thing you should know about me is that I LOVE to give gifts. I don't care so much about getting them :) but giving something I know will mean something to the receiver is what makes me excited. So not being able to buy for the boys and other family members was especially hard for me.

I remember, that year, we were doing a Christmas musical about The Little Drummer Boy. There was a song we sang that of course held the words, "I have no gift to bring...pa rumpa pum pum." Every time we sang it, I felt overwhelmed and full of sadness as this was the first time in my life it was completely true. Even for the Christmas offering... I was desperate to give...with nothing to draw from. But the truth of that story is of giving ourselves to the King. You might not have gold, frankincense or myrhh like the kings did, but you still have a priceless gift for HIM. It's something He desires more than any other thing.

Last night at the Children's Christmas concert the little girls danced to the simple song....What can I give Him....What can I bring....What is a gift that's fit for a King? And the answer was sweetly given as they lifted their red paper hearts high...I'll give Him my heart....I'll give Him my heart...what can I give Him but all of my heart? It's so true. More than any other thing, this is the truth of Christmas.

There were several miracles that took place in our family that year. A family in the church we barely knew brought us a turkey. Someone blessed us with some money we were to set aside for gifts for the boys. The other miracle took place inside of me. There was a giving up of sorts...a fresh surrender to the King...born in a stable in a humble way...a new giving of my heart, to give who I am to Him.

We have been given a Savior who longs for us. He is our promise come true. If you find yourself in a place this year where it seems there is nothing to give or you feel your heart is broken or even cold...bring HIM your heart anyway...that's what Jesus wants for Christmas.

Pray the Word

Lord today I remind myself that You said in Your Word that I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (Matt 5:13,14)

Because I have received You and believed in You I am Your child. (John 1:12)

You alone are my rock and my salvation: You are my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on You: You are my mighty rock, my refuge. (Psalm 62:6,7)

I am part of the true Vine, a channel of Christ's love. (John 15: 1,5)

I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit. (John 15:16)

Even if my father and my mother forsake me, You, Lord, will receive me. (Ps. 27:10)

I am seeking You, Lord, and You will answer me; You will deliver me from all my fears. (Ps. 34:4)

Lord, because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
(Psalm 63:7-8)

Father, how great is the love that You have lavished on me, that I should be called a child of God! And that is what I am!
(1 John 3:1)

Father, today I choose the way of TRUTH. I want to set my heart on Your laws. Help me to choose the way of truth the rest of my days. (Psalm 119:30)

You will enlighten my darkness Lord. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with You, my God, I can scale a wall!
(Psalm 18:28-29)

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I am now living is Christ's life. (Gal 2:20)

I have been redeemed and forgiven, and I am a receiver of His lavish grace. (Eph 1:6-8)

I have the right to come boldly before the throne of God to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

I have been given a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. (2Tim 1:7)

I pray today that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart would be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 119:14)

Lord, Your Word says that there is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. Help me to be one who speaks wisely. (Prov.12:18)

As much as it depends on me today, I will choose to live peaceably with all men. (Rom12:18)

Today I will stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made me free and I will not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
(Gal 5:1)

Finally Lord, Your Word says that I do not need to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, WITH THANKSGIVING, I should let my requests be made known to You; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind through Jesus Christ. I believe that Lord and I do it now, in Your name. (Phil 4:6-7)

A Challenge

Sometimes we need a fresh perspective on our lives. Have you ever noticed that when you are focused on your problems whatever they may be....family stresses, financial pressure, relational trials, spiritual dryness...they don't go away, they are magnified instead?

If your routine is mostly the same each day it's easy to get stuck in a rut....with the way we think, what we think about, our responses to people, the way we spend our money etc. We may realize that we are going around the same mountain AGAIN and yet to get over the mountain seems too hard and hey, since we've been around the mountain before at least we know the way! No need to ask for directions!

With this kind of thinking, we are missing out on the joy the Lord wants to bring to us each day in our circumstances, tough as they may be. So today, I decided to issue a CHALLENGE to whoever wants....

For the next month, let's purpose in our hearts and make the choice to speak life, regardless of our situation. To dwell on the Word of God, despite our feelings. To confess His faithfulness in our lives, no matter what we see with our human eyes.

The Word says that we are to think on those things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. Phil 4:8. It also says that we have a responsibility to renew our minds. Rom12:2 Well, how do we renew our minds? THe best way, I think, is with the Word of God. We need HIS perspective on our situation. That is the fresh perspective we should be looking for.

Daniel paused three times a day and prayed and gave thanks to God. This was his custom. Psalm 55:17 says..."Evening, morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice."

So, this is my challenge...regardless of how you feel ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to pause in the morning, in the middle of your day and in the evening to "fix your eyes on Jesus", rather than on what is overwhelming or frustrating you. Pray and see the Word begin to transform your thinking and your responses. We do many things more that once every day....we eat, we are in the bathroom, we drive our cars, we talk to friends...surely we can pause and pray the Word. I guess it depends how badly we want to get around our mountains:)

Send me an email if you're up for this challenge and check out the next blog for ideas of what to pray. Write these verses and statements out and put them somewhere you find yourself at least three times a day. In the fridge, by the coffee maker, in the bathroom, in your vehicle. Let's encourage each other in our faith in Him.