All I Really Want For Christmas

Christmas is truly an adoption story.Jesus Christ, the Son of God, leaving His heavenly home with all it's eternal riches and coming down into this lowly world. He was adopted into an earthly family by Mary and Joseph so that we could be adopted into His heavenly/forever family and be able to cry out "Abba,Father".

Two times in the Bible's New Testament the word "orphan" is used. When Jesus was teaching and preparing His disciples for His departure, He reassured them "I will not leave you comfortless/orphans". He would send them The Comforter, the Holy Spirit to live and abide in them. Jesus' brother James would later use the same word in referring to the fatherless/orphan"Pure and undefiled religion is to visit orphans and widows in their distress...".

In our world today there are many orphans, both spiritual and physical. There are many without family, both spiritual and physical. There are many who have never experienced the miracle of adoption, spiritual or physical. There are many waiting for us, as God's children, as His family, to welcome and invite them in.

Christmas, it is truly "The Adoption Story". Tell the story, share the story, live it out and welcome others in.Experience the miracle.


YouTube - All I Really Want For Christmas Music Video

Advent Posts 4

Advent-Coming, Arriving, Present. Shepherds and wise men humbly bowed, One day Every knee will bow and Every tongue will confess(that) JESUS CHRIST IS LORD to the glory of God The Father.The kings of earth brought their perishable gifts, THE KING OF GLORY brought the imperishable gift of eternal life,Praise be to God for His indescribable gift!Unto you is born...a Savior...CHRIST THE LORD. Behold The Child is born!

Christmas-The Adoption Story-The Son of God became a son of a man and a woman so that we could become sons and daughters of God. Jesus, adopted into an earthly family so we could be adopted into a heavenly/forever family.Experience the miracle of adoption.

Advent-coming, arriving, present. May the gifts you receive this Christmas be the ones that abide in your heart-the peace of God, the presence of God, the love of God. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing".

Advent Posts 3

Advent-coming, arriving, present. JESUS-He came not to a throne but to a manger. He lived not as a king but as a servant. He chose not an earthhly kingdom but a cross. He gave not just a little but everything. May the Lord's great love bless you this Christmas and always. "...Christ loved us and gave Himself for us..."

Advent-coming, arriving, present. The gift of love, the gift of joy, the gift of peace....God is with us, "Immanuel'. The great gift-eternal life through Jesus Christ"Unto you is born a Savior". I pray you have received the gifts He came to deliver. Thank You Jesus!

Advent-coming, arriving, present. God with us-this is the meaning, the message, the miracle of Christmas. May your Christmas be blessed as you celebrate Jesus-the One Who truly became and truly is "God with us."

Advent-coming, arriving, present. The Promised One born in the promised land. What does it mean to have The Promised One in our lives? What kind of impact is He making in and through your life personally? Is His presence real in your life?

Advent-coming,arriving,present. Have you heard? Have you seen? Have you come? Have you found? Do you marvel? Do you glorify and praise God? Do you give thanks? Have you been redeemed? Have you received His salvation? He came. He arrived. He is present. He is Redeemer. He is Savior. He is Jesus. He came for you.

Advent Posts 2

Advent-coming,arriving,present.He spoke/breathed all creation into being...now His voice cries out from a lowly stable,His breath shows in the cold Winter air...The Creator of the universe,The Eternal Word,God become flesh and living among us...Immanuel-God with us...the baby wrapped in rags,lying on the hay in a feed ...trough...Jesus The Messiah...and the One Who spoke still speaks.Do/will you hear His voice today?

Advent-coming, arriving, present. Joy to the world, the LORD is come, let Earth receive her King, let every heart prepare Him room. Unto you is born...a Savior...Christ the LORD. As many as receive Him to them He gave the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name.

Advent-coming, arriving, present. Unto you is born...a Savior...Christ the LORD. The gift of God...eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. Unworthy of the gift, I say thank You Jesus.

Advent-coming, arriving, present. A Great Light, the True Light, the Creator of light , the glory of God, a baby lies in a feed trough, wthin a stable, in the city of shepherds. The Good Shepherd who came to lay down His life for us. Thank You Jesus for coming for me!

Advent Posts 1

Advent-coming, arriving, PRESENT. God's presence with us is one of His greatest presents to us. "In Your presence is fullness of joy". LORD help us to focus on and treasure Your presence.What would Christmas be like if we truly celebrated God's presence?

Advent-coming, arriving, present."Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." He came, He arrived, He is present, He is coming again.Thank You Jesus for coming for me, for being present with me always, for the present/gift of eternal life.

Advent-coming, arriving, being present. I AM with you always...be strong and courageous, do not fear or be afraid for the LORD your God is with you always...I will never leave you or forsake you...I AM a Friend Who loves you all the time...I AM your ever present Helper. Thank You Jesus...I needed to remember/be reminded today.

Advent-coming, arriving, being present. This season/time of advent I'm remembering and giving thanks that Jesus came, that He is ever present with me, and that He is coming again. Thank You Father for the greatest gift. Thank You Jesus for delivering it.

Reason to be Thankful

Teach me the secret of living in Christ-for in Him are hidden ALL the eternal, infinite, invaluable, treasures of God-ALL the treasures of wisdom and understanding. I am in Christ and Christ is in me, I have this treasure in me, an earthen vessel, a jar of clay-mud, dirt, water, plain, dull, ordinary on the outside appearance, but perfect/complete in Christ, through Christ, because of Christ. Since I am in Christ and Christ in me, I should be seeking, pursuing, focusing on things eternal, having an eternal focus, an eternal vision-Colossians 3…bearing eternal fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, glorifying God, my forever Father, living for eternity, living the gift of God, the eternal/abundant life through Jesus Christ my Lord, Savior, Brother, forever Friend, Who paid the price with His own blood/life for me, for my adoption into this, His, God’s, Abba Father’s forever eternal family.Jesus, Who came for me, Who gave me the right to be a child/son of God. Jesus Who lived, loved/loves, died, resurrected, ascended, lives forever seated at the right hand of God. This Christ is in me and I in Him. I have been given a living, forever, eternal hope that will never fade away but will only grow greater/brighter.
Reason to be thankful/give thanks? Reason to praise God? Infinitely beyond what I can think or imagine.
I am not an orphan, I am a child of God, I have a forever Father and family. I would keep this focus, this mindset…I am complete in Christ Who loved/loves me and gave Himself for me…I have the mind of Christ, direct access to the Father, to the very throne of God forever, the Holy Spirit of God living/abiding in me, the Spirit of Truth, my body is His temple/dwelling place. The Holy Spirit my constant companion, comforter, counselor, helper, guide, leading me and teaching me, revealing to me the mind, will of God.
Reason be thankful/give thanks? Reason to praise God? Infinitely beyond what I can think or imagine.
The One Who loves me most is that close…closer than my next heartbeat or breath of my next prayer. We are one, we are family, His very blood flows in me, gives me life abundant/eternal. He abides in me and I in Him.
Reason to be thankful/give thanks? Reason to praise God? Infinitely beyond what I can think or imagine.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear, for I am not alone, for You are with me…comforting me, protecting me, providing for me, giving me strength in my weakness, grace all-sufficient, and peace surpassing understanding. All I need, now and forever, I find in You.
Reason to be thankful/give thanks? Reason to praise God? Infinetly beyod what I can think or imagine.

The Manhattan Declaration

The Manhattan Declaration

Help With A Home Run - Our Daily Bread

Help With A Home Run - Our Daily Bread

Time...Moments...Change...

The C Word

Three years...hard to believe...when the C word was spoken in our family...this time it was my dad

Veterans Day

11-10-09

i am not...

i am not without guidance,
i am not without comfort,
i am not without a guardian,
i am not without help,
i am not alone,
i am not an orphan,
i am a child of God,
i am an heir of God,
He is my Abba, Father,
He has given me His Spirit,
i am a temple of the Holy Spirit,
Jesus is my brother, my friend,
I'm so glad that i'm a part of the family of God!

Seven X Seven

Hard to believe it has been seven weeks. I told myself I was going to journal my way through the journey but so far my entries have been sporadic at best.Over rocky roads and through storm tossed seas, now still and quiet I search for words to express...to share...

Adopted

I am not an orphan for I have received the Spirit of adoption and God is my forever Father. Thank You Jesus for making this possible.

Orphan Sunday | November 8. 2009

Orphan Sunday November 8. 2009

REFOCUS-A Psalm Prayer

Turn Away My Eyes From Looking At Worthless things And Revive Me in Your ways.
-Psalm 119:37
TAME my eyes from FLAWs and ARM me in, FOCUS me on,revive me in Your ways.

F-Father, faith

O-Obedience

C-Christ, cross

U-Unconditional love

S-Spirit

A Proverb Prayer and Cinnamon Roll Memory

Father,
You have given me ears to hear and eyes to see,
May my ears be open to the cry of the poor and the helpless,
May I have a generous eye and give unsparingly,
I would be a doer of righteousness and justice,
A follower of righteousness and mercy,
A seeker of wise counsel,
May I walk in integrity,
A man of a pure heart and gracious words,
A hearer, knower, hider, sharer, doer of Your Word,
My trust is in You.
Amen.
-From my personal meditation on Proverbs 20-22

During a sleepless night my mind journeyed back to the bitter cold winter mornings I experienced growin up in Michigan. While most were still snuggled up warm in bed, I was up and out the door early to deliver the weekend newspaper. Snow piled high and my breath like a thick cloud that went before me. Oh, what a welcome sight, on the occassion my Dad had worked the midnight shift, to see him, in his truck, coming down the street. So thankful for his helping hand and then the special treat..hot, fresh from the bakery, cinnamon rolls drippin with glaze. I can still remember what it felt like to hold that warm box in my cold hands and bringing it close to my nose and breathing in deeply...the warmth and smell seemed to penetrate every pore in my body and the taste...pleasure beyond description. Sweet, precious memory of my Dad...always with me, always a part of me.

One Month Again

One Month

Day Three

Day Two

Day One

Sometimes gifts come at unexpected times and wrapped in unusual ways. We are used to the usual occassions for receiving gifts, such as, on our birthday or at Christmas. However, sometimes , on rare occasion we are caught off guard by a special delivery. At first we may not welcome it for the packaging is not very appealing. Sometimes it takes time to recognize/realize its true value. This gift is precious, priceless, especially and uniquely designed for the recipient. The gift is to be highly cherished and unselfishly shared. It is a gift entrusted to us for the benefit of others and the glory of God.
The text went out early on Monday morning, September 21, the last day of Summer, to family and friends. “I need your prayer support. I’ve had a lingering physical problem for a few months now, about mid-June, that the current treatment is not resolving. Will be going to a specialist today at 11am for a procedure to help aid in the healing process. Been through a lot in my life, and I know God is with me and in control but honestly, I’m still a bit nervous. Please pray for me. Thanks.”

21 Gracious Years

Wait No More

I recently checked out data on the numbers of children in the United States in foster care who are available for adoption....over 127,000 and the number of churches, over 300,000. In all but one state (Nevada) the number of churches outnumbers (many by far) the number of children. The call is clear to reach out to them, in fact ,James 1:27 comes on the heels of verses speaking to be "doers of the word'. So, what are we "doing"? For a long time i've had a heart for orphans, it's time i "did" something! How about you? I encourage you to get informed, check out the foster care program in your state, have your eyes opened to the need and then pray what God would have you do, individually and as a church. This is the churches responsibility, not the governments. We can put an end to the need for foster care altogether if we'll all step up. Need more info, inspiration, encouragement? Then check out this video, share it with others, spread the word,respond,drop me a line, i've got much more info to share. Thanks!

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9cff723783d6508ed08b

Remember and Give Thanks

This last Monday in May we observe Memorial Day, although the actual, original date,was/is the 30th. Somewhere along the way the change was made to the last Monday in May in order to set up a three day holiday weekend. This day set aside especially to memorialize those who gave their lives in the service of our country in defending and advancing freedom. Such a high price…so many, so much sacrifice…may we never forget or take the freedoms we enjoy for granted or to lightly pass by a day like this without remembering and giving thanks for those who gave their all and those who continue to do so at this very moment. If you know or see someone currently serving or that is a veteran or their family or someone who lost a friend or loved one in military duty take time, anytime, not just on special days like this to reach out and say thank you, it’s the least we can do to express our gratitude. Below is something I wrote a few years ago.

Remember … and give thanks!
Today I awoke long before dawn, still, comfortable, peaceful, thankful, blessed, free, and I reflect. I am able to enjoy such a moment because a high price was paid because a sacrifice was made. A sacrifice by many who’s name I'll never know, who’s faces, I've never seen, with lives given up never to be known. Today I remember although I cannot comprehend. They drank from a cup I'll never have to drink. They drank their final cup not knowing it was so, not mindful of the cost, with unquenchable courage . . . courage I'll never know. The value of freedom-can it ever be measured? The cost of freedom-can it ever be counted? Can it ever be paid in full? Priceless, costly, invaluable, immeasurable, and beyond comprehension! Today I remember those who have gone before and those who go forward now. Today I remember those who fought before and those who fight now. Today I remember those who paid the price and those who continue to pay the price so that we can continue to enjoy and others can begin to enjoy and share in this priceless gift of freedom. Today I remember and say “Thank You!” to those who have and still continue to sacrifice for freedom. Today I remember and say a prayer. Today I remember and offer thanks to God, the true Giver of freedom, for this country and this gift!