God Lavishes His Love On Us!

Outside one of the bakeries in Leavenworth, we found a young fir tree. It was dusted with snow, interwoven with red LED lights, and adorned with enormous pretzels. The pretzels were a treat the baker had made for the wild birds.

The instant I saw this tree, my heart was touched by the thoughtfulness and care of the townspeople for the wildlife God has created for us to enjoy.

Here is a picture of one of the birds pecking vigorously at one of the pretzels. What a lavish treat!

As I watched this bird, I thought, "This is how God treats us — He also lavishes His love on each one of us. That is how great His love is!"

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us."

1 John 3:1a (NIV)

It Is God Who Gives Life To Everything

Leavenworth is a beautiful, magical town that is alive with exuberant joy and thankfulness.

Although you would never know it today, this same town was once close to death. In the early 1900s, its sawmill was shut down and the Great Northern Railroad was rerouted elsewhere. As a result, Leavenworth was left teetering on the verge of extinction for over thirty years.

But then, in the early 1960s, the townspeople, out of determination and love for their home town, decided to attract tourism by remodelling their town into a Bavarian-style village, using the Alpine mountains as the perfect backdrop. They also created numerous festivals and ceremonies to celebrate the joys of the different seasons.

Befittingly, the town's first and most famous ceremony is the Christmas Lighting ceremony. During this ceremony, the entire town is lit up in thousands of bright, coloured lights to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Here are just some pictures of the beautifully lit up Austrian village of Leavenworth at Christmas time:

Since the Bible says that Jesus is the One who gives life to everything, He, therefore, is the One who gave life to Leavenworth.

"Fight the good fight of the faith.

Take hold of the eternal life

to which you were called

when you made your good confession

in the presence of many witnesses

in the sight of God,

who gives life to everything."

1 Timothy 6:12-12 (NIV)

If one visits Leavenworth during the Christmas holidays, one won't find the townspeople focused on Santa Claus. Instead, one will find Christ's spirit in their hearts. I believe their wondrous celebration of Christmas is their way of giving honour to the true Giver of Life.

To Whom Then Will You Liken Me?

This morning, Matthew and I hiked through the forest and climbed a hill. Unfortunately, despite our superlative tracking skills, we saw no wildlife. Nevertheless, I took some fascinating pictures.

At first it was cloudy. But just as we reached the peak, a patch of blue sky appeared.

On the way down, we saw some lichen!

"'To whom then will you liken me,

or to whom shall I be equal?'

says the Holy One.

Lift up your eyes on high,

and see who has created these things."

Isaiah 40:25-26a (NKJV)

Just before noon, the sun was clearly visible beyond the trees.

And then our hike ended because it was time for lunch.

The Sledding Hill Was Steep And Rough

Yesterday, my brothers and I went sledding. The hill was icy and steep, and riddled with bumps. We all came away with bruises.

"But for those who are righteous,

the way is not steep and rough.

You are a God who does what is right,

and you smooth out the path ahead of them."

Isaiah 26:7 (NLT)

Today, we are taking what's left of our battered bodies and going skiing.

False Fruit

Some of this fruit is . . . (gasp!) . . . fake!

"Beware of false prophets who come disguised as
harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
You can identify them by their fruit,
that is, by the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes,
or figs from thistles?
A good tree produces good fruit,
and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
A good tree can’t produce bad fruit,
and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
So every tree that does not produce good fruit is
chopped down and thrown into the fire.
Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit,
so you can identify people by their actions."

Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT)

Beware the fruit that is fake,
Envy not their waxy sheen,
The grapes, the banana, a buried apple,
And maybe a pomegranate somewhere underneath.

He Is Here!

It is not uncommon for people to start to feel low after Christmas. But let us remember that, as God's children, every day is a joyous occasion to celebrate, because Jesus is with us to the very end of the age! Unlike the wisemen in the Bible, we don't have to travel a long distance to see Him and experience His glorious presence. He now resides inside each of us and His presence can be felt always if we simply tune our hearts toward Him.

"And surely I am with you always,

to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:20b (NIV)

A Silent And Holy Night

Before evening fell last night, Brian and I took a drive along country winter roads to experience the silence and holiness of Christmas. In the quietness and stillness of His creation, God spoke volumes, and His beautiful holy presence was both seen and felt.

Here are some pictures I took to capture a bit of what we felt.

"He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.'"

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

If we are still, we will know that He is God and that He is the One who is exalted!

You Must Be Ready

Yesterday, Brian and I travelled with our four sons in two vehicles to Logan Lake, BC to spend the Christmas holidays with my husband's family. The night before we left, it snowed all night. But shortly before we left, the snow stopped, and God was with us, because the roads were clear and the visibility normal. We also experienced a special surprise from God on route.

Yesterday morning, as we were getting into our vehicles for our Christmas journey, I looked at Brian and  my son Tim, the two designated drivers, and blurted out without thinking, "Stop when we see a wolf because I want to take a picture of it!" My family looked at me in disbelief. I stood there, also in disbelief, as I wondered why I had just said what I had said.

Well, God must have put those words on my lips, because when we were travelling through Mount Robson park, my husband, Brian, spotted a large black wolf standing in the middle of the road. Brian, being an obedient husband, stopped as I fumbled to take my camera out of its case, remove the lens cap off, push the right button to roll down the car window, and then break away from the mesmerization of staring straight into the eyes of a beautiful wolf standing only a car's length away. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a picture of the wolf before the car behind us thoughtlessly passed us and frightened the wolf into the bushes. But the picture of the wolf will be forever in my mind, and I will never forget both it and the lesson it taught me.

When I saw the wolf, I was not prepared to take its picture, even though God spoke to me ahead of time about it. I should have had my camera out of its case, lying right beside me, with the lens cap off and ready, but I didn't. Why? Because I didn't completely believe that I would see a wolf in the wilds close enough to safely take a picture of while driving in winter conditions. I especially didn't believe that I would see a wolf that would actually pose for me. My partial disbelief caused me to be not completely prepared, and I missed out.

This message holds true for people today as well. God has promised us in Scripture that His Son, Jesus Christ, will once again return to earth. We need to be fully prepared for His glorious return, or we will miss out too.

"So you also must be ready,

because the Son of Man

will come at an hour

when you do not expect Him."

Matthew 24:44 (NIV)

Blessed With Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ

Christmas can be a difficult and depressing time for many: those who have recently lost loved ones, those who have rebellious or drug addicted children, those who are sick, those who have alcoholic family members, those who are divorced, and those with little money to spend. However, no matter what our earthly circumstances, as God's children, we are blessed with EVERY heavenly blessing in God our Father because of the wondrous birth of His Son Jesus Christ!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! We are chosen by Him, holy and blameless in His sight, loved and adopted by the King, pleasurable to Him, created for a purpose, and freely given His glorious grace.

"Praise be to the God

and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in the heavenly realms

with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

For He chose us in Him

before the creation of the world

to be holy and blameless in His sight.

In love He predestined us for adoption

to sonship through Jesus Christ,

in accordance with His pleasure and will —

to the praise of His glorious grace,

which He has freely given us in

the One He loves."

Ephesians 1:3-6 (NIV)

In other words, as God's children, we can celebrate Christmas with joy and praise on our lips because we are so incredibly blessed. We are loved profoundly and steadfastly by the King and each of us is a cherished family member in His glorious Kingdom.

Merry Christmas!

How To Stand Firm After The Battle

Throughout the Old Testament, God's people only won battles against their mighty enemies through prayer, worship, and obedience to God; although they were often much weaker than their enemies in man-power, whenever the Israelites turned to God for their help, they were much stronger than their enemies in God-power.

The Bible says that in this world we are not actually fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, mighty powers of this dark world, and evil spirits in the heavenly places — in other words, the devil and all his demons. Therefore, in order to win the war against evil, we must fight with God's power, using His armour, His weapons, and His strategies. But if we instead put our trust in man's power, we will, after the battle, be left lying on the ground bleeding from our wounds and dying from our utter foolishness.

"Put on all of God's armour

so that you will be able to stand firm

against all strategies of the devil.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies,

but against evil rulers

and authorities of the unseen world,

against mighty powers in this dark world,

and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Therefore, put on every piece of God's armour

so you will be able to resist the enemy

in the time of evil.

Then after the battle

you will still be standing firm."

Ephesians 6:11-13 (NLT)

In order to stand firm in war against evil, we must stand firm on the foundation stone — the truths of God's Word. And we must never forget the inscription written by God on this very foundation stone: The Lord knows those who are His, and All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.

"But God's truth stands firm

like a foundation stone with this inscription:

'The Lord knows those who are His,'

and 'All who belong to the Lord

must turn away from evil.'"

2 Timothy 2:19 (NLT)

God sees each of our hearts, and if our hearts are saturated with the truths of God's Word, then we will stand firm against our enemy and be victorious!

Live Life To The Fullest!

We all desire abundant life. A common expression you hear today is, "Live life to the fullest!" Unfortunately, the unbelievers of the world seek happiness and love in all the wrong places. This ultimately leaves them empty, depressed, purposeless, and fearful. They are blinded by Satan, and so they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Jesus Christ.

"The god of this age

has blinded the minds of unbelievers,

so that they cannot see

the light of the Gospel

of the glory of Christ,

who is the image of God."

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

Satan is described in Scripture as a thief who comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Yet people still continue to be deceived by him as they look everywhere but to God for the answers. Conversely, the Bible says that in Jesus Christ we have life, and it doesn't just stop there -- it says we have life to the full!

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life,

and have it to the full."

John 10:10 (NIV)

It is frightening to think what it will take for people to finally see the Truth and look to God and His Word instead of to ungodly leaders, anti-Biblical governments, failing police and armed forces, secular psychology, and prescription drugs.

Don't Trust in Mortal Men; Let God Be Your God

In a world of evil and horrendous violence, we are not to put our trust in powerful people to protect and save us, because they can not.

"Don't put your trust in princes,

in mortal men,

who cannot save."

Psalm 146:3 (NLT)

The Bible says that if we foolishly trust in man and his power while our hearts have turned away from the Lord, we are cursed. There will be no blessings. There will be no protection.

"This is what the Lord says:

'Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who depends on flesh for his strength

and whose heart turns away from the Lord.'"

Jeremiah 17:5 (NLT)

However, if we put our trust in God, He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. We can trust God because His way is perfect and His Word is flawless.

"As for God,

His way is perfect;

the Word of the Lord is flawless.

He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him."

22 Samuel 22:31 (NIV)

Adhering to God's Word is the only way we will have the blessings of God. If we continue to disregard God's Word and put our trust in a person or leader to protect us, we will surely be disappointed. No one can save us but God. No one can be our safeguard but Him. And His flawless Word is the only way for us to know Him; through it He directs us to travel on the right path of life as He upholds us with His victorious right hand.

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you.

Don't be discouraged,

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you with my victorious right hand."

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

When we truly know God we never have to be afraid or discouraged, for when He is our God and we look only to Him, the Almighty is with us. And when God is with us, there is nothing that can stand against us!

"If God is for us,

who can be against us."

Romans 8:31 (NLT)

God's Word Is Like The Rain And The Snow

The Word of God is like the rain and the snow that come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. The Word of God causes growth, generates renewal, and provides nourishment! Whenever people honour it, it produces fruit and fulfils God's promises, and therefore prospers!

"The rain and snow come down

from the heavens and stay on the ground

to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow,

producing seed for the farmer

and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with My Word.

I send it out,

and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to,

and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

Isaiah 55:10-11 (NLT)

May the world, the governments, the schools, and the churches of today get back to the power and might of God's words in His Holy Scriptures so that God's work can flourish and abound, and we can be vitalized and nurtured by God's wisdom and love! Only then will His perfect will be accomplished in our lives.

The grass may wither and the flowers may fall, but God's Word stands forever! It never needs to be rewritten or revised.

"The grass withers

and the flowers fall,

but the Word of our God

stands forever."

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

Nor does any of God's commands need to be changed. We are never to add to it or subtract from it.

"Do not add to what I command you

and do not subtract from it,

but keep the commands of the Lord your God

that I give you."

Deuteronomy 4:2 (NIV)

God's Word stands true yesterday, today, and forever!

LIft Up Your Eyes And See The Truth

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains —

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth."

Psalm 121:1 (NIV)

A young child who has been murdered or killed is now safe in the loving and comforting arms of his/her Heavenly Father where he/she will never again know pain or sorrow. If the parents of such a child turn their hearts and minds toward God, from whom their help will come, they will know this heartening truth.

The textbook on Darwin's theory of evolution will not comfort them, but God's Word will. Yoga classes will not be effective in relieving the stress of their heartache and subduing their unanswered questions, but God's Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will. A saint or a worshipped idol will not be able to give them hope, but liberal access to communication with God in prayer will.

But why then have we ceased morning prayer and Bible reading in our schools? Why have we prohibited our teachers from mentioning truths of the Christian faith in their classes, with serious repercussions if they even mention a single verse of the Bible? Why have we now implemented yoga, a practise of an ancient, false religion, in our children's school programs? Why have we forced our teachers to teach evolution as a fact, not a theory, and to completely ignore the creation story?

When tragedy strikes, people inwardly know where the answer lies, and if they listen to God's voice, they will be comforted. If they turn their hearts toward God, seek to know Him through His Word, and serve Him all their earthly days, then one day they will see their precious child again. They will know the truth, for the Truth is right there. And it's the only truth that will set them free.

"Then you will know the truth,

and the truth will set you free."

John 8:32 (NIV)

Do You Really Expect God To Answer?

The prophet Micah in the Old Testament chastised the moral state of the national and religious leaders of his day.

The leaders of the nations of Northern Israel and Southern Judah were supposed to know right from wrong, but instead they were the very ones doing evil in the sight of God. Then when trouble came, they turned to God and begged for His help. But God couldn't even look at them because of their great evilness and selfishness.

"I said, 'Listen, you leaders of Israel!

You are supposed to know right from wrong,

but you are the very ones

who hate good and love evil.

Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble!

Do you really expect Him to answer?

After all the evil you have done,

He won't even look at you!'"

Micah 3:1-2a, 4 (NLT)

The religious leaders who lived during this time weren't any better. They were false prophets leading God's people astray from Him and His Word. They blessed those who supported them but cursed those who would dare speak up against their sins of hypocrisy. When they called upon God in their times of distress, there too was no answer from Him.

"This is what the Lord says:

'You false prophets are leading my people astray!

You promise peace for those who give you food,

but you declare war on those who refuse to feed you.

Now the night will close around you,

cutting off all your visions.

And you will cover your faces

because there is no answer from God.'"

Micah 3:5-6a,7b (NLT)

Micah further rebukes these leaders and prophets of Judah and Israel. He reports that the leaders were twisting what is right. They were building their nations on foundations of murder and corruption. They were making decisions based on bribes. And the prophets of God were only doing His work if they were paid. Yet all these corrupt leaders and prophets claimed to know God.

"Listen to me, you leaders of Israel!

You hate justice and twist all that is right.

You are building Jerusalem

 on a foundation of murder and corruption.

You rulers make decisions based on bribes;

you priests teach God's laws only for a price;

you prophets won't prophesy unless you are paid.

Yet all of you claim to depend of the Lord."

Micah 3:9-11a (NLT)

Does this all sound familiar? It should. Many of our national leaders today claim to know God, and yet they openly support gay marriages and the killing of unborn babies. Those who are committed Christians, whose heart's desire is to submit completely to God and His Word, find that the church and its religious leaders are hostile towards them. And it is difficult to find anyone in our modern churches who will work for God for free; they all expect to get paid substantially and to claim titles for themselves. All the while, God's heart is breaking. Because of this pervasion of evil, God can no longer look at us or answer our cries of help when He so desperately wants too!

Then we raise our fists and yell out to God, "Where are you?!"

And God grievously replies, "Yes, where am I?"

Let God's Word Fall Like Rain, Descend Like Dew

People who want to receive life, growth, protection, blessings, and care from God the Father must begin to fear Him and His Word. Then God's teachings will fall upon him/her like rain upon a parched and crevassed land.

His words will descend like refreshing dew in the early morning. His laws and precepts will descend like lavish showers on new grass, like pure, abundant rain on tender plants exceedingly athirst for growth, growth which yields a productive life.

"Let My teaching fall like rain

and My words descend like dew,

like showers on new grass,

like abundant rain on tender plants."

Deuteronomy 32:2 (NIV)

May God's Word — all of it! — be respected and honoured, so that His blessings will cascade down from Heaven!

Since You Have Forgotten Me

A few days ago, a lady friend and I accompanied another lady friend Christmas shopping for her family members and loved ones. She was having a difficult time getting into the Christmas spirit and the two of us wanted to make it a fun event for her. The result was that not only did she have fun, but so did we. The three of us had a great time supporting one another and just being friends!

However, as we visited at the various stores, every time we went to a cashier for my one lady friend to purchase an item, my other lady friend wished the cashier a merry Christmas! And every time the cashier responded "Happy Holidays!" instead of "Merry Christmas!" It's so heartbreaking to see the world delete Jesus Christ and His Word from Christmas, schools, and governments. But it's even worse to see Christians, as many are doing now, delete Him and His Word from their lives and their churches.

The Bible says that, in the past, God's people were being destroyed because they did not know Him. This now is also true today, and it's because so many pastors, elders, teachers, and church-goers refuse to know Him themselves. They have shoved His Word aside and replaced it with modern thinking, or subtracted from or added to it to fit their own rules and beliefs. As a result, they have forgotten the laws of their God, leaving people in confusion and chaos, and, even worse, leaving people unprotected from the evil one.

"My people are being destroyed

because they don't know Me.

Since you priests refuse to know Me,

I refuse to recognize you as my priests.

Since you have forgotten

the laws of your God,

I will forget to bless your children."

Hosea 4:6 (NIV)

Who is to blame for the evil crimes and disasters we see today? The world blames God. And the church-goers, well, they blame the devil. But God says the blame lies with the people who refer to themselves as Christians, even call themselves priests or pastors, but have no desire to know Him, teach His Word, listen to His Holy Spirit, or abide by His laws.

Where Is The Heart Of The Church Today

Knowing Jesus is surpassingly valuable, and all the things the world has to offer are really nothing more than garbage.

"But whatever were gains to me

I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

What is more,

I consider everything a loss

because of the surpassing worth

of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,

for whose sake I have lost all things.

I consider them garbage,

that I may gain Christ."

Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV)

This holds true in our churches as well. Our focus should be on knowing Jesus and His Word; our ministries, our free time, and our money should be spent for the purpose of introducing others to this Great Treasure so they too can know Him as their personal Lord and Saviour.

"In Whom are hidden all the treasures

of wisdom and knowledge."

Colossians 2:3 (NIV)

The Bible says that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Most pastors and religious leaders are faithful to impress this principle upon the individual lives of their congregators, especially when tithing is low, but, hypocritically, they neglect to apply it to the corporate structure of their churches.

"For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:21 (NIV)

All the material wealth we now see in many of our churches — the trendy and up-to-date programs and services designed to please, impress and entertain the congregators, the many highly-paid man-ordained ruling positions and the predominant titles that we must use in addressing these rulers — are really garbage compared to Jesus and His Word. When it comes down to it, Jesus and His Word are really all the body of Christ needs. But instead, most of our churches desire worthless vile.

Where is truly the heart of the Church today?

There Am I With Them

This year God has richly blessed me with nine ladies (many of whom are from different churches and denominations) who weekly meet together at my house for Bible study and prayer. We also pray for each other's needs during the week as well. I eagerly look forward to every Thursday morning when we come together in God's Name, because God is there with us, speaking to all of our hearts as we grow in His knowledge and wisdom when we study His Word, care for each other's needs, and pray.

"For where two or three

come together in My Name,

there am I with them."

Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

We don't have to meet in an elaborate place for God's presence to be felt, because God doesn't care about the surroundings or the things we see. He cares about the heart. And each lady who comes to my home comes with a sincere heart to know God more and have a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. As a result, we see God working in all of our lives, answering prayers, and blessing each of us with His love and care. (I even had one lady a few weeks ago come a day early and my first thought was, "What a sweet lady! How God must be pleased with her zealous heart!")

"Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God."

Matthew 5:8 (NIV)

You see, what matters most to God is that we love Him more than anyone or anything else, and that we have an earnest desire to seek His face regularly and be in a steadfast relationship with Him, our Heavenly Father.

"Sorry, I Can't Help You."

The Word of God must govern the lives of every Christian and the activities of every church. It must be made the sole authority in all matters. It must never be set aside for trendy fads, traditions, or modern thinking. Christians and churches who do otherwise are hypocrites and their worship means nothing to God.

"Jesus replied,

'You hypocrites!

Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you,

for he wrote,

"These people honour me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship is a farce,

for they teach man-made ideas

as commands from God."

For you ignore God's law

and substitute your own tradition.'

Then he said, 'You skillfully sidestep God's law

in order to hold on to your own tradition.

For instance, Moses gave you this law from God:

"Honour your father and mother,"

and "anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father and mother

must be put to death."

But you say it is all right for people

to say to their parents, "Sorry, I can't help you.

For I have vowed to give to God

what I would have given to you."

In this way, you let them disregard their needy parents.

And so you cancel the Word of God
in order to hand down your own tradition.

And this is only one example among many others.'"

Mark 7:6-13 (NLT)

Jesus gave only one example of how a person can cancel the Word of God, but He said there are many.

Here is a list of some examples I see today:

• Worship leaders, musicians, singers, and sound people disregarding the elderly people's complaints that the music is too loud and hurts their ears, saying instead, "Get over it and stop complaining. You're just trying to cause trouble."
• Church leaders and pastors being annoyed when the frail complain that the lights are too dim, which causes them to be fearful of falling and injuring themselves when entering and leaving the building.
• Pastors, ushers, and congregators being irritated when mothers bring their babies and toddlers into the main service instead of the nursery, saying, when these young children cry or start to make noises, "You are disturbing the sanctity of the service!"
• Church leaders, musicians, singers, and pastors being outraged at someone for suggesting a modest dress code, arguing instead, "We have freedom in Christ to wear whatever clothes we choose," and "God made us sexual; why should we hide it?"
• Church goers proudly giving their ten percent to their church to help cover the enormous mortgage, the inevitable day-to-day expenses, and the salaries of the many pastors and paid Church workers, after which only a small portion is left to go to the poor and needy.
• People saying, "I am called by God to the work of the Church, which entitles me to a substantial wage and an honourable title."
• Churches building indoor coffee shops or setting up tables to fulfil people's desire to socialize before and during the service instead of worshipping God.
• Churches attaching price tags to functions such as children's camps, Vacation Bible Schools, boys and girls clubs, retreats, dinners, concerts, and drama productions, saying instead, "We can't afford to do these things for free." How can they not? Charging money prevents these functions from being outreaches to the poor, lost, and unsaved in the community, even though many of these people are dying each day and entering eternity in hell.
• Church goers neglecting to financially help a needy neighbour or family member, saying, "I've already done my duty; I've given my ten percent to my church." But have they actually given their money to God? Or to an empire?

We must ask ourselves regularly if we are in any way ignoring God's Law in order to hold onto our own ways, our own way of thinking and our own little kingdoms — because if we are, we are hypocrites and our worship is a farce.

God Is The Father Of Compassion And All Comfort

Six months ago, my brother lost his wife to cancer. But now, just last week, he has become a grandfather for the first time. Although my brother will soon spend his first Christmas as a widow, he will also spend his first Christmas as a proud grandfather of a long-awaited, beautiful, healthy grandchild, a boy who bears his name. Amid my brother's sorrow, there is comfort of a new life. God, who is the Father of compassion and all comfort, blessed by brother with His love during a time when he needed it the most.

"Praise be to the God

 and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion

and the God of all comfort."

2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us all with the birth of His son so many years ago! It is because of this baby we are free to accept God's precious gift of eternal life and are comforted by His love and care in the sorrows and trials we experience here on earth.

My Soul Is Satisfied As With Marrow And Fatness

No matter what we have or what we do not, or what dreams have come true or what ones have not, God's children are satisfied because of God's presence in their hearts. When we have God, there is nothing more our souls will hunger for; they are already filled as with marrow and fatness.

"My soul is satisfied

as with marrow and fatness,

and my mouth offers

praises with joyful lips."

Psalm 63:5 (NIV)

Therefore, let us offer up praises to God with joyful lips, especially during this time of year that we are celebrating His glorious birth!

When You Love And Believe In Him

The reward of loving God and believing in Him is an inexpressible and glorious joy. And this inexpressible and glorious joy we feel from knowing God is evidence that He is real; even though we have not seen Him with our eyes, we have felt Him with our hearts.

"Though you have not seen Him,

you love Him;

and even though you do not see Him now,

you believe in Him and are filled

with an inexpressible and glorious joy."

1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)

This Christmas, experience God's joy by loving and believing in Him.

God Fills Us With All Joy And Peace

I love Christmas! But just because I love Christmas doesn't mean that I don't, at this time of year, feel an emptiness for the loved ones I have lost, or grieve for others I know who have lost their beloved spouse or child and will be celebrating the season without them. Loving Christmas doesn't mean I don't feel a nagging guilt for all I have and for those who do not. It doesn't mean I am not sickened by the world's focus of Christmas as they ignore the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ and all He stands for.

Loving Christmas doesn't mean that my heart isn't deeply saddened and troubled for all those who haven't yet received the greatest gift — one of faithful love that comes from our Heavenly Father, that required the greatest sacrifice, and that offers to all the greatest rewards: salvation and eternal blessings. Loving Christmas doesn't mean I don't hold some bad memories of past Christmases; I miscarried two children during the Christmas season.

I love Christmas because the God of hope fills me with all joy and peace as I trust Him. No matter what negative thoughts try to enter my heart, God's Holy Spirit within overflows and overpowers them with hope.

"May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him,

so that you may overflow

with hope by the power

of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

My love for Christmas will be forever and always because my heart is set on Jesus Christ and eternity with Him.

Let Us Go Right Into The Presence Of God

The moment we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Lord and Saviour, we can boldly enter into the presence of God at any time and at any place, because the blood that Jesus shed on the cross cleanses us from all unrighteousness, thus freeing us from all guilt and punishment.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters,

we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place

because of the blood of Jesus.

By His death,

Jesus opened a new and life-giving way

through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

-

-

And since we have a great High Priest

who rules over God's house,

let us go right into the presence of God

with sincere hearts fully trusting Him.

For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled

with Christ's blood to make us clean,

and our bodies have been washed with pure water."

Hebrews 10:19-23 (NLT)

However, the Bible states that we must approach God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. It is because of Jesus Christ and our faith that we can boldly and confidently come into God's presence.

"Because of Christ and our faith in Him,

we can now come boldly and confidently

into God's presence."

Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

When we pray to our Heavenly Father, let us pray boldly, with our hearts sincere and our faith full — not timidly, shamefully, or skeptically. It is because of His sacrificial death that Jesus Christ has the power and authority to be our great High Priest, offering us the forgiveness of our sins.

Do You Desire Rest For Your Souls?

This is the favourite resting position of my cat Hunter — on her back with her legs sprawled out and paws outward. When I see Hunter like this, I know she is extremely contented.

So many people in this world long for this type of rest, but they search in the wrong direction. Adding to the confusion is the fact that there are two main groups of people who call themselves Christians.

The first group consists of the true Christ-followers who earnestly seek the Word of God to govern their lives and direct their paths. They are commonly referred to as conservative Christians. They walk in humility and servanthood the Biblical, Christ-like way. They discover the rest and joy their souls long for.

The second group consists of the other Church-goers. They modernize God's Word and change or ignore many of His commandments to fit the trend of society and be more acceptable to others. They are known as liberal Christians. Many times it is very difficult to tell the difference between such Christians and the world. They walk in pride and self-centredness, following their new, impious version of God's Word. As a result, they only discover restlessness and misery.

God says that if you are troubled and undecided about which path to take in life because of these differing views on Christianity, stop, look around, ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.

"This is what the Lords says:

'Stop at the crossroads and look around.

Ask for the old, godly way,

and walk in it.

Travel its path,

and you will find rest for your souls.

But you reply,

"No, that's not the road we want!"'"

Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)

God's Word, the pathway of life, is the only route that, following, you will find true rest for your soul. Don't be like the majority of the world who foolishly say, "No, that's not the road we want!" Otherwise you will never discover the serenity your heart truly desires.

Disturb Us Lord!

When I woke up yesterday morning and opened my bedroom door, Osha opened his eyes but refused to move from his comfortable, stretched-out position on his bed, which is located just outside my bedroom door above the stairs to the main living area of our house. Osha didn't even make a twitch, but instead gave me that look which says, "Why did you disturb me? I was enjoying my sleep!"

Sometimes, I think we can be like Osha. We get too pleased and comfortable with our lives, our churches, and all the abundant things we possess that we stop dreaming about eternity. We stop thirsting for the Living Water and craving for the Living Bread, that we might live daily in His presence. As a result, we become ineffective in our testimony and cease caring about the unsaved who are doomed to spend their eternity without God, without Love, and without Life.

Let God disturb each of us more in our comfort, so that we don't forget about Him, His Word, Heaven, and the unsaved souls all around us.

"Only be careful,

and watch yourselves closely

so that you do not forget

the things your eyes have seen

or let them slip from your heart

as long as you live.

Teach them to your children

and to their children after them."

Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

Be always careful, watchful, and cautious about the things of God.

The Lord Is Close To Those Who Trust Him

Last weekend, my sons Tim and Matthew were putting up the suspended ceiling in the weight room. (This is the only ceiling that needs to be finished before the downstairs of our house is inspected one last time.) As they were in the process of moving the heating ducts and placing them off to the side to be framed in so that they wouldn't be jutting out of the ceiling, they discovered that one of the heating ducts was plugged with beer cans. My sons immediately starting cracking jokes amongst themselves by blaming one of their brothers for the deception. I couldn't help but laugh at my sons because I know them so well. I know I can trust each one of them. That is why we are a close family.

It is not possible for a relationship to be close and intimate if you don't trust the other person, or if the other person doesn't trust you. It is trust that binds and holds two people together. Once that trust is destroyed, a separation occurs and distance is made. This also holds true in our relationships with our Lord. He can't be close to those who don't trust Him. The Bible says that when trouble comes, He can be a strong refuge to us, but not if we distance ourselves from Him because of our mistrust.

"The Lord is good,

a strong refuge when trouble comes.

He is close to those who trust in Him."

Nahum 1:7 (NLT)

The Bible also says that every word of God proves true, and that He will be a shield of protection to all who come to Him. But for us to want to come to Him, we must trust Him. Trust is the glue that holds relationships together.

"Every word of God proves true.

He is a shield to all who come to Him

for protection."

Proverbs 30:5 (NLT)

You Have Only Begun To Show

"O Sovereign Lord,

You have only begun to show Your greatness

 and the strength of Your hand to me,

Your servant.

Is there any god in heaven or on earth

who can perform such great and mighty deeds

as You do?"

Deuteronomy 3:24 (NIV)

Worship is taking the time to meditate on who God is and then expressing our gratitude to Him.

While Ministering In The Holy Place, Just As The Lord Commanded

In the Old Testament, the priests were commanded by God to wear sacred clothing while ministering in the Holy Place.

"The craftsmen made beautiful sacred garments

of blue, purple, and scarlet cloth —

clothing for Aaron to wear

while ministering in the Holy Place,

just as the Lord had commanded Moses."

Exodus 39:1 (NLT)

When people gather together to worship God in a church's sanctuary on Sunday morning, the current fad is to wear casual — even worse, sensual — clothes. This trend even includes those who minister. Is this a sign of humility or is it a sign of disrespect to a holy and honourable God?

I believe that, in most cases, humility is merely being used as an excuse and a cover up of what is lacking in people's hearts: obedience and reverence to the King of kings and Lord of lords. When a person is invited to a wedding, does he/she wear his/her work clothes? Of course not! It would show disrespect to the bride and groom. Or when a person attends a funeral of a loved one, does he/she wear his/her casual clothes? No! This would show dishonour to the deceased loved one and the grieving family. So why do we choose to not wear our best (but modest) apparel in God's presence?

Just like the priests in the Tabernacle of the Lord were commanded by God to wear sacred clothing while ministering in the Holy Place, we are to do the same when we gather together to worship the Most High God. Our outward appearance and body language depict much of what is truly in our hearts when we come to church to worship God.

Worship Is Setting Your Mind On What The Spirit Desires

In all the churches I have attended over my lifetime, the music department was the war zone of the church. The criticisms were usually harsh and evil, and the bickering hellish.

Music is one of the main causes of division in churches today. Such division occurs whenever self is the main focus of worship, not God. The outcome of this type of worship is the complete opposite of being in the presence of God.

The Bible says that those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires. What does the sinful nature desire? — self-satisfaction, self-approbation, self-aggrandizement, self-importance, and self-pleasurement? What do all these words have in common? — the prefix "self-".

But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. What does the Spirit desire? — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What do all these words describe? — the character and presence of God!

"Those who live according to the sinful nature

have their minds set on what that nature desires;

but those who live in accordance with the Spirit

have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

Romans 8:5 (NIV)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

patience,

kindness,

goodness,

faithfulness,

gentleness,

and self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23a (NIV)

If God's people were to enter true worship, there would be no strife or division in our churches. Instead there would be unity, for this is the whole essence of God. He is One and we are to be one with Him. If God's people were to truly worship Him, the outcome would be marvellous! heavenly! miraculous! and the fulfilment of all we desire!

For the Father Is Seeking

The Bible says that the Father is seeking true worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

"But the hour is coming,

and is now here,

when the true worshipers

will worship the Father

in spirit and truth,

for the Father is seeking

such people to worship Him."

John 4:23 (ESV)

When I read this verse a couple of days ago, the words "is seeking" caught my eye. The verb "to seek" means "to go in search or quest of," or "to try to find or discover by searching or questioning." As I pondered the meaning of these words, I stopped for a moment and asked myself the question, "Shouldn't it be easy for God to find people who worship Him? I mean, all He has to do is look inside the multitude of prominent churches that are built around the world, right? Why does He have to seek?"

The answer is because the Scriptures say God is seeking TRUE worshippers — those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

My prayer is that may our worship be true in God's eyes and worthy of His honour, holiness, and majesty.

How Have We Shown Contempt For Your Name?

God gives each of us a free choice of will to decide between serving Him and serving the devil. However, the moment we choose to live for God, we surrender our wills to Him; not only does God become our Father and we become His sons and daughters, but God also becomes our Master. And we can trust God our Father and Master because He is honourable, righteous, loving, kind, unselfish, faithful, and forgiving. When God gives us commands to obey, He does so to bless us with all His goodness.

But although we are His blessed sons and daughters, we are His blessed servants as well. Therefore, the commands in the Bible are not to be considered as requests that we can choose to abide by or not. Our coming to God is much more than a verbal acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is Lord. Our coming to God is a life-long commitment to serve Him, a genuine heartfelt desire to obey all His commands and live for Him.

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,'

and do not do what I say?"

Luke 6:46 (NIV)

A son honours his father and a servant honours his master. Therefore we also are to honour the Lord God Almighty. But how do we show the honour and respect that is due to His Name? — by our obedience and worship to Him. However, many times what people think is worship only shows contempt for His Name. Why? — because of their disobedience and lack of respect.

"'A son honours his father,

and a servant his master.

If I am a father,

where is the honour due me?

If I am a master,

where is the respect due me?'

says the Lord Almighty.

'It is you, O priests,

who show contempt for my Name.'

But you ask,

'How have we shown contempt for your Name?'"

Malachi 1:6 (NIV)

As God's children, as His servants, and as His church, we need to ask ourselves regularly if our worship shows all the honour and respect He so richly deserves.

Pray About Everything And Thank Him For All He Has Done

Two and a half weeks ago, my dentist installed mock crowns on my front teeth. I was to wear these temporarily until my next appointment, scheduled for December 5th, during which they would be replaced with permanent porcelain ones. Unfortunately, the installation didn't go quite as planned. . . .

For fifteen years, I have needed my front teeth capped because of eroding enamel. However, my husband's past dental plans have always refused to cover any of the cost of frontal crowns. But when, just over a year ago, my husband changed jobs, I was ecstatic to learn, as God already knew, that it came with an awesome dental plan which covers seventy percent of crowns. My dentist sent a recommendation to my dental insurance company for the needed crowns, and they soon accepted.

Two and a half weeks ago, I excitedly arrived at the dental office. Despite the anticipated discomfort, I was thrilled to be there, especially when my dentist gave me a mirror to show me, before he glued them in, what the temporary crowns looked like on my teeth.

Five hours later, after being pricked, poked, soaked, drilled, gagged, and bruised, I was completely unaware — owing to a combined dreamlike and nightmarish state of mind — that my mock crowns had cracked, that my dentist had quickly made new ones out of a stronger material, that this new material was somewhat foreign to him, and that something had gone wrong. But I began to suspect something wasn't right when my dentist finished his work and promptly left not only the office, but the building too, without even saying, "Good-bye!" or, "I'll see you later!"

His dental assistant was the only one left to explain the situation. Sheepishly, she handed me the mirror. I was so horrified, the only words that came out of my mouth were, "Oh gross."

My mock crowns were pinky-orange.

Feeling a little guilty at my vanity and trying to make light of an awkward situation, I joked, "I should have gotten these teeth before Halloween."

I left the dental office sick to my stomach, knowing that I had to wear these embarrassing teeth for a whole month, and feeling guilty that I felt that way.

For the next two weeks, nothing could be done because my dentist was on holidays. Yesterday was his first day back at work. (I knew he had returned safely because I saw him in church on Sunday.) So, when I said my prayers to God, I tacked on one final request, "Please forgive me God if this prayer request is a sin, but could there be a cancelation today so that I can have my crowns put in right away instead of waiting until December 5th? I am tired of trying to inconspicuously put my hand to my mouth every time I am about to smile or laugh."

After I said this prayer, I got up, ran downstairs, and told my sons to answer the phone if the call display has my dentist's name on it. A few hours later, I did get a call from the receptionist, and now I have beautiful teeth! During the last-minute appointment, my dentist profusely apologized to me about the blunder, and he even worked overtime to finish installing my permanent porcelain crowns. By the end of the day, both he and I had great smiles of our faces.

Before leaving, I turned to my dentist and his assistant and sweetly said, "Thank you!" I also thanked God all the way home and many times throughout the night. I guess God didn't think my request was a sin after all.

"Don't worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank Him for all He has done."

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)