Christmas Card 2010

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Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things; do not dwell in the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.


Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.


2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Will you fall into your old ways of thinking?
I am always creating the new in you.
Let your heart see it, feel it, act on it.
I am breaking your heart of stone.
I am creating streams in the desert of your heart.
All this so you can, by My Power, point others to me.
Delight in Me and your desires will be My desires.
Release all unforgiveness, bitterness, anger and discontentment.
For in Me is forgiveness, kindness, peace and contentment.
You are My new creation.
Daily, I make you new.
A new and right attitude.
Guard your heart and mind.
Do not allow the Enemy of your soul a stronghold in you.
My desires are true and good.
Throw off your desires and let Me replace them with My desires.
Follow Me, My heart and My Way.
I am here.
I am The NEW.
I wait for you each day.
Seek Me and you will find Me.
You are My new creation.
You cannot flee from My presence for I am with you to the end of the age.
Remember I will never leave you nor forsake you.
My grace, My love, Me; I am enough for you.
Rest in Me. Lie down at My feet.
You are My bride, My beloved.
For you I died, for you I live.
I am here waiting for you to perceive it.
Believing is seeing.
I am in you.

For a friend who lost her mother

I did not leave you when your mother came to me.
She is with me and I am with you.
My Power is still yours.
I am in the void, I am in the hole that you feel in your heart. I am your treasure and you are mine. I LOVE YOU!
The miracles have not stopped.
I am working in your life RIGHT NOW.
Come to Me.
Rest in Me.
I am taking you to the Promised Land and your mother is right beside me cheering you on.
She wants you to LIVE.
Her heart lives on in you.
LIVE.
Embrace Life and remember I am WITH YOU!
Remember the power I showed you during your mother's illness?
I am still here.
I never left nor will I ever leave you.
You are My sweet treasure and I am holding you and loving you through this.
My Power awaits you - just keep calling, crying and seeking me.
I can be found, you know how.
Listen to the still small voice inside you.
Be still and know that I AM God.
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
I am Big Enough to heal your pain.
It is not an easy road, but one well worth traveling.
Let me carry you.
Do not Fear for I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Your Redeemer, Your Restorer.
I will give you back the years the locusts have eaten.
Your mother lives on in your heart, in your children but mostly in Me.
She knows you miss her and she wants you to love Me and love others the way only you can love and in so doing bring glory to me.
You are my sweet child and my love shines from your eyes.
Others know Me because of you.
Remember I LOVE YOU!
Wrap yourself in Me.

Book Review: The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

This book is about remembering what God expects of those who confess Him as Lord. Do I just profess Him as Lord and then in my life have other gods that function as my lord? Can I say I follow Jesus with my lips, when my actions say something entirely different and still consider myself a follower of Christ? What does God expect? Am I willing to be open to God’s will for my life? These are questions the author answers for himself and in the process asks you to look at your own life and answer these questions in your own life.

I found the book challenging and inspiring. I enjoyed reading about his calling, and how he still struggles with not allowing his heart to become hard. It is always inspiring to read about how another believer calls on God to remove his heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. It is about God changing you from the inside out and I think the author is clear about this. It is nothing we do, it is all God’s doing. But he also makes it clear that we have to “start our engines.” I found my eyes opened to the suffering of poverty, hunger, disease, lack of drinking water and orphaned children. I felt a heavenly reminder that when someone is gifted and blessed by God in many ways, there comes great responsibility to use those gifts for His glory. Jesus calls all of his followers to use their time, talent and treasure to further His Kingdom here on earth. The author also makes it clear that only you can seek and find God’s will for your life, that your calling may not come as his did. Are you willing to take that first step to find out? I encourage every one “comfortable” or even uncomfortable in their faith to read this and let God “break your heart for what breaks His.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

More of Him and less of me

John 3:27-28, 30


John replied, "God in heaven appoints each person's work. You ourselves know how plainly I told you I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for Him - that is all. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."

I have appointed your work - past, present and future.
I knew even when I was knitting you in your mother's womb the good works I had planned for you.
To bless others and glorify Me.
I saved you.
I redeemed you so that My Son's light would shine through you and point others to Me.
You prepare the way.
I am the Way.
Clothe yourself with compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, and patience.
But mainly clothe yourself in love.
For love prepares the Way for others to see Me, to experience My Truth, My Life and My Way.
The only way for this to happen is for you to become less and allow me to be More.
I am More than enough for you!
I love you!
Remember Christ died so that all who believed would have My Spirit living inside of them.
So don't mourn that you don't have My Physical Presence beside you because My Spirit lives inside of you!
And isn't this better?
For I can be with all believers instead of standing by a few.
Practice listening to My Spirit.
Trust and obey and your hearing will become clearer.
I want to guide and lead you - let Me through My Spirit!
Remember I only give you enough light for the next step!
I am not going to give you a 20 year, 10 year, 5 year or even a year plan.
But look back, when you obeyed at each step then I gave you light for the next step when you were ready for it and not before.
I know you!
Your real life is hidden in Me.
Seek Me and you will find Me for I want to be known by you.
Remember MORE of ME and less of you!