He's Doing a New Thing!

"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV

God will make a new way. Each year, each month, week, day, and even after each incident in our lives. If we have strayed and gone onto the Freeway of Failure because we missed our exit, the Road to Righteousness, He will, if we come before Him in humility and repentance, forgive us and put us back on the Street of Salvation. Keep in mind, it's never too late to start again.

When practicing a pitch, it may take hundreds of throws to get it right again and again. We must notice what the right throw 'feels' like. We must forget the wrong way and concentrate on the right way. So even in our everyday life, we are following what this verse says. So apply it to your life. God will help us! We don't have to struggle! Just stop looking at the old thing. We can't move forward if one leg is in the past. Allow God to do a new and wonderful thing in you. He knows the way and will make it clear to you. We are so blessed by His compassion!

When Angels Appeared Bringing the Good News (Revisited from 2013)

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
       “ Glory to God in the highest,
         And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." Luke 2:8-20

Can you imagine being one of the shepherds that holy night?  Can you imagine taking care of your flock (as this Child would one day) and being interrupted by an angel of the Lord?  And then a 'multitude' of heavenly host appear and in heavenly choir sing praises of glory to the Lord?  Can you imagine the depths of wonder your soul would experience?  In the light of the stars and moon and in the glory of the angels, you must be unbelievably scared!  But you are told to not be afraid but instead to know that a Savior is born and He will take care of you forevermore!

So after the angels disappear, imagine standing there in the field with your sheep and your friends and wondering what was going on!  Your life is changed completely!  You didn't see just one angel, as Abraham and Jacob did, you saw a multitude of heavenly host!  A multitude!  How do you catch your breath after that?  After the honor that was bestowed on you to be a witness to such a miracle!

And then you do what they told you and you journey to the cave that houses an infant who will save the world!  How do you even comprehend all that?  You see His young mother cradling the Savior of the World and His earthly father watching nearby, protecting them both.  You fall on your knees and you worship the Babe.  You tell about what the angels told you, and you see His mother listening intently.  What an amazing honor to be chosen to be one of the first to see this and to bring a message from heaven to Mary!

You know how when we see a newborn baby we always marvel at the perfection of their lips and their eyelashes and tiny fingers?  Can you imagine seeing Jesus just hours old?  Knowing, because the angels told you, that He would save the world?  That He was the King of kings?  Do you dare to touch His little hand so that His fingers rest around yours?  What would it be like to touch the Son of God? 

Dear Reader, we can touch the Son of God anytime we want to!  He is in each one of us.  He is in your wife, your child, your husband, your friend, your co-worker.  He is in the guy down the street that doesn't bring his garbage can up right away.  He is in the homeless, he is in the downtrodden, he is in the teacher, the fireman, the executive, the secretary, he is in us!  Bless someone today with a hug.  If that is too uncomfortable for you, than bless them with a smile right from your heart!  Think of that person as Jesus, your Savior!  Love your fellow man; today do something extra special for someone you don't know.  Let the angels sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men." 

Have a beautiful day, and God bless you today and always.  Wrap yourself in the miracle of Jesus' birth!  Please enjoy the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4qsDeHE1mw

Going to the Birds or, Another God Moment!

After a very wet autumn and a cold, damp winter, spring has returned to Central Texas. The bluebonnets and colorful wildflowers are blanketing the area in a splendor of living color. What roadsides just a few weeks ago were dead and barren is now painted blue, white, pink, coral, and green. It is a joy for the eye to behold. A God moment, if you will.

A few days ago while having lunch with my husband on our back porch, a hummingbird flew right to the table, stopped above it, about eye level and 18 inches or so from my face. It turned its black head on white body (I’d never seen one like this before) to look at me. Yes, there was a black and white hummingbird about 18 inches from my face and it turned its head to look me straight in the eye. I smiled and said, “well hello there!” and it flew off. Another God moment.

This was the Lord’s way of telling me that His tiny ones have returned and needed to be fed, so get the feeders out and in place. I know this because it wasn’t the first time He has used a hummingbird to get my attention. Several years ago while doing the dishes, a hummingbird flew right to the window, looked at me, turned and looked at its empty feeder hanging on a shepherd’s hook behind it, looked once again at me, then flew away. How obvious can you get? I mean, when God wants to get a message to you He’ll take whatever means possible, and with me, many times it is through His creations. I had been meaning to clean and refill the feeders but kept putting it off or forgetting. Another God moment.

God, however, doesn’t forget, not even about the smallest of birds, so He would never forget our needs. Sometimes we just have to remind ourselves (or take note of His reminders) to place it all in His great hands, settle into the peace that surpasses all understanding, and watch Him work. He will either do it himself or send someone else to help you. It is humbling and exciting when we put two and two together and enjoy the God moment.

So, dear Reader, enjoy the beauty of Spring, and be sure to thank our Father for His unending love and provision for us and all the rest of His creation. Keep an eye out for those God moments, they are all around you! Oh yeah, and don’t forget to feed the birds!

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

O Holy Night

"For where the treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matt 6:21 NKJV

I recently opened a Dayspring Christmas card I received.  The words on the front say:

'Wise men came with the treasures of earth in their hands.... and left with the Treasure of Heaven in their hearts.'  Inside it says, 'Celebrating this Christmas because Jesus still gives us the greatest treasure of all--Himself!  Blessings to You.'

What a beautiful sentiment!  Tears filled my eyes because it is so simple.  They came with earthly treasures for the Child, treasures of the most valuable things on earth-- gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they but left with the greatest treasure of all, having seen and worshipped the Savior of the world, the Messiah! 

We also come to Jesus giving what to us is the most valuable thing we have -- ourselves.  In this world of  'me, me!' that is what we consider to be the most treasured of our possessions, our own lives.  In reality, our lives are a filthy and totally inadequate gift for the King of kings.  But it is the best we can do; and a celebration of God and heavenly hosts occurs when we offer our lives to Jesus!  God our Father rejoices for every single person who gives their life to Christ.  He actually sings!  God sings over you!!

"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

And the angels throw a party! 

"Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won't she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she'll call her friends and neighbors: 'Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!' Count on it—that's the kind of party God's angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God." Luke 15:10 Message

This Christmas, when the world seems to be going down the drain in a whirlpool of hatred and sin, why not rededicate yourself to Jesus of Nazareth, to Emmanuel, God with us.  Let Him take your dirty heart and cleanse it in the blood He shed for you.  Let His life be your example.  Stop rushing, instead allow someone else to go first.  Lend an ear to someone who needs it.  If you see someone who looks lost in a store ask if you can help them.  It's so easy to be kind, and it makes you feel better.  Pray for those that hate you, as strange as it sounds, you will feel so much better! You will release all sorts of stresses that may be ruining your life and health! 

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven;" Matt 44-45 NKJV

Dear Reader, if you have not given your life to Jesus but you want to, or if you have gone away and wish to rededicate yourself, let today be the day that you do.  It is Christmas Eve 2011.  You will receive a treasure worth more than anything and everything here on earth--your promise of life everlasting in Heaven with the King of Kings!  So be renewed, be born again, for "Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NKJV

Please pray this prayer with all your heart:

Heavenly Father, I come to You admitting that I am a sinner.  Right now, I choose to turn away from sin, and I ask You to cleanse me of all unrighteousness.  I believe that Your Son, Jesus, died on the cross to take away my sins.  I also believe that He rose again from the dead so that I may be justified and made righteous through faith in Him.  I call upon the name of Jesus Christ to be the Savior and Lord of my life.  Jesus, I choose to follow You, and I ask that You fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit.  I declare right now that I am a born-again child of God.  I am free from sin, and full of the righteousness of God.  I am saved in Jesus' name.  Amen 

Welcome (back) to the Kingdom of God and eternal life!  You may want to find a church tonight or tomorrow morning to worship and fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  You have a very large family now!   Merry Christmas and God bless you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU

This is the Day!

Today is the day You have made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it! I begin my day in praise to You, Lord. You are Almighty, You are Sovereign, and You are Beautiful, Healer, Teacher, and Deliverer.

You took me from the pits of Hell and brought me to Your place at the right hand of God. You smiled upon my life and I was drawn with a strong desire to have You in my life. I needed You like a baby needs its mother. I could no longer live without You in my heart. My time of living the world’s way was no longer fulfilling, I heard death knocking at the door. My Spirit did not want such an ugly thing, I knew there was something, Someone, better.

And You didn’t turn Your back on me when I reached out to You. I was so ugly and filthy and full of disease and death. And You took hold of my hand and brought me to a place on a hillside and showed me a cross. You spoke only two words, “For You.”

In my shame and embarrassment I searched Your eyes for deception, “who would die for me? Surely not You, I don't even know You!” All I saw in Your eyes was forgiveness and a deep and powerful love. There was no deception, no hidden motive, only love, pure and holy. I could tell that although I didn’t know You, You knew me.

I fell on my face in the dirt where Your blood still stained the earth, and I wept, so undeserving was I to be in this place. I found that I was already changing; my arrogance was being replaced with humility, my fear with trust, my anger and hatred with love.

My hard and stony heart was softening, and as I cried tears of humility, I felt the burden of death released from me. My tears mixed with Your blood as I surrendered my life to You in exchange for eternity. We became one. I knew in my heart that death no longer owned me. I knew I would spend eternity loving You, with a joy in my heart I was unprepared for. I never knew this feeling of joy, the lightness of my soul, the peace of being safe.

You took my hand and helped me up. You brushed away my tears and told me I was Yours. You smiled and kissed my face and held me in Your loving arms. All the angels in Heaven smiled and shouted ‘Hallelujah’ because I had given my life to You.

I knew this is where I belonged, and I became light, just as You. I was no longer filthy or filled with rage, I became whole as I walked hand-in-hand with You, Jesus. I am never alone, and only You could make me feel this way.

Oh yes, the dark world still wants to bring me back,  Its grip on my life has been severed forever, yet the ruler of this dark world can’t stop his relentless pursuit to at least trip me up. When I find myself out walking alone, when I have not walked with You, I feel the darkness grabbing hold of my ankles, trying once again to steal my new found faith and joy.

But at those times that I am lost, You hold me even tighter, and reach down in love when I fall and scrape my knees, and You remind me that I must trust You, and believe You. I must obey You, because You know the right path, the only one to Heaven’s Gate. I can easily get distracted by the false beauty of the world, and by seeing my own reflection in the lake. I must remember that only You are the Truth, the Light, and the Way.

So I surrender my life to You, Jesus, my Savior. I confess that You are God and came to earth and was born to a virgin. I believe You suffered and died for my sins. I believe that You rose and beat death once and for all. I believe that You are my Lord and Savior, and more than anything that You died that I might live, so great is Your love for me! I thank You, Lord Jesus, and I gladly throw away the old and put on the new! My life is Yours, You cleansed and saved me. I believe I am a child of God, no longer lost or unloved. I am a sinner, and You are my Savior. I love You, Jesus!

So let me enjoy this beautiful day that You have made for me. Let me bask in the warmth of Your ever-present love! I praise You! I worship You! You are GOD!!! And You love me!

dft ©