this is (for) us

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

- Titus 3:3-7

It is a longer verse today, but well worth the read.

You know what is really sad, is that I can pinpoint moments in my life where I have lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating.

Moments in my life that just occurred in the last week, even.

How lucky are we that God sent His Son so that we are saved.

That even in moments of weakness and shame, He still loves us.

Wow.

I needed this today.  

Have a blessed day!

promises

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

- Isaiah 7:14

I just love the Christmas story! (the Bible one, not the “you’ll shoot your eye out” one)

There are so many promises and miracles in the story of the birth of the Christ child.

And His name shall be Immanuel.

Immanuel (Emmanuel) means God with us.

I double checked because I knew someone would ask: Immanuel (Hebrew: עִמָּנוּאֵל meaning, "God with us"; also romanized Emmanuel, Imanu'el) is a Hebrew name which appears in the Book of Isaiah as a sign that God will protect the House of David.

Song reference!

Who are we

That You would be mindful of us

What do You see

That's worth looking our way

We are free

In ways that we never should be

Sweet release

From the grip of these chains

Like hinges straining from the weight

My heart no longer can keep from singing

All that is within me cries

For You alone be glorified

Emmanuel

God with us

My heart sings a brand new song

The debt is paid these chains are gone

Emmanuel

God with us

Lord You know

Our hearts don't deserve Your glory

Still You show

A love we cannot afford

Like hinges straining from the weight

My heart no longer can keep from singing

All that is within me cries

For You alone be glorified

Emmanuel

God with us

My heart sings a brand new song

The debt is paid these chains are gone

Emmanuel

God with us

Such a tiny offering compared to Calvary

Nevertheless we lay it at Your feet

Such a tiny offering compared to Calvary

Nevertheless we lay this at Your feet

All that is within me cries

For You alone be glorified

Emmanuel

God with us

My heart sings a brand new song

My debt is paid these chains are gone

Emmanuel

God with us

Oh I just love the band Mercy Me!

But even more, I love the promise of Christmas and the fact that God is with us (always)

Have a blessed day!

jelly of the month club?

But when the right time came, the time God decided on, He sent his Son, born of a woman, born as a Jew, to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that He could adopt us as His very own sons.

- Galatians 4:4-5

It’s December, ya’all, and it is a mere 23 days until Christmas!

Have you ever received a gift that was so much more than a gift?

I’m not talking “jelly of the month club” gifts, I am talking about a gift that really keeps on giving.

Adoption is a wonderful thing, bringing families together, creating new families, adoption is a gift from God.

I was adopted and I am blessed to know my biological parents and my adoptive parents, and I am thankful for both, my adoption was not only a gift to me, but to all of my parents as well.

With the gift that God sent, the gift of His Son, we are given everlasting life, we are adopted into His family and we are His children.

When I think of that gift, I really don’t need anything else for Christmas.

Have a blessed day!

YOU!

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

- Proverbs 27:9

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today being the last day of November, the last “day of thankful” I wanted to be sure to thank you, my readers, followers and friends.

When God put it on my heart several years ago to start sending an email with His word, I reacted kind of like everyone else to whom He has given a task.

“Why me, Lord?”

Then, He told me (through the advice of a friend) that I should start a blog.

Through sharing His word, I have gained perspective, friends and a greater understanding of His word.

You, my friends, have played an integral part in making that happen.

Friends

Packing up the dreams God planted

In the fertile soil of you

Can't believe the hopes He's granted

Means a chapter in your life is through

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

With the faith and love God's given

Springing from the hope we know

We will pray the joy you'll live in

Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

And friends are friends forever

If the Lord's the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never

'Cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands we know

That a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

No, a lifetime's not too long

To live as friends

Today I am thankful for the followers of my ramblings, those who read my “daily bread”, those readers that offer feedback and encouragement, who share in my joy and in my pain.  Together we grow closer to God, and for that, I am very thankful.

Have a blessed day!

gifts

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!

- 2 Corinthians 9:15

Oh my goodness, it is almost Christmas!

You know what that means, right?

Presents!  Lots and lots of presents!!!

As a child, (and even into early adulthood!) I can honestly say that I really didn’t get the whole “it’s better to give than to receive” thing.

But now, I have seen the joy on the faces of people as they receive an unexpected gift.

The happiness that radiates from within as someone opens that item, the object of their desire.

I wonder if that is how God feels when we realize the gift that He gave us, when we acknowledge how wonderful that gift is.

The Greatest Gift

Condemnation falls away

Never more to call on me and I am clean, yes I am clean

The powerful work of you in me

Breaks the chains of guilt and shame and I go free, yes I go free

I take them to your cross and leave them there

Captured by this grace I’m free at last

It is the great gift of Your salvation

Working in me, working in me

It is the life giving taste of heaven

Your kindness revealed, Your kindness revealed to me

It’s the greatest gift of all

It’s the greatest gift of all

It’s the greatest gift of all

Your mercy’s pouring down on me, Your mercy’s pouring down on me

And I am clean, I am clean

Your mercy’s pouring down on me, Your mercy’s pouring down on me

And I go free, I go free

Today I am thankful for the gifts I have been given, and the ability to share gifts with others.

Have a blessed day!

Prayer For A Friend

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Pray without ceasing.

This is one of the biggest challenges that some of us face.

It is really hard to pray without ceasing, to give thanks in ALL circumstances.

We have talked about “what if I can’t”, and how can we be thankful for all things?

It is hard, but we must.

I have a personal favor to ask of you.

If you are reading this, please take a moment to pray for people in need of God.

I have a few in my life that really need Him.

Prayer For A Friend

Lord, I lift my friend to You, I've done all that I know to do

I lift my friend to You

Complicated circumstances have clouded his view

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

I fear that I won't have the words that he needs to hear

I pray for Your wisdom, oh God, and a heart that's sincere

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

Lord, I lift my friend to You

My best friend in the world, I know he means much more to You

I want so much to help him, but this is something he has to do

And Lord, I lift my friend up to You

'Cause there's a way that seems so right to him

But You know where that leads

He's becoming a puppet of the world, too blind to see the strings

Lord, I lift my friend up to You

My friend up to You

Lord, I lift my friend to You, I've done all that I know to do

I lift my friend to You

Today I am thankful for the ability to pray, for my friends, for my family, for others, for myself.

Have a blessed day!

presence

Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!

- Psalm 95:2

This is a really powerful verse!

We are allowed, encouraged and welcomed into the presence of the King!

We can take everything, every little thing to our Father and He will listen.

He is a wonderful Daddy, we can crawl into His lap and be comforted . . .

Here in Your Presence

Found in Your hands, fullness of joy

Every fear suddenly wiped away here in Your presence

All of my gains now fade away

Every crown no longer on display, here in Your presence

Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonders

The kings and their kingdom are standing amazed

Here in Your presence, we are undone

Here in Your presence, Heaven and Earth become one

Here in Your presence, all things are new

Here in Your presence, everything bows before You

Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way

Wonderful, beautiful, glorious, matchless in every way

Today I am thankful for His presence in my life, because I would not have my life without Him.

Have a blessed day!