I’m too tired to even think!!
I know I say this every year…but next year WILL be different!!
Jesus, help me!!
Jan6
Tag Archives: Jesus
Jan4
“Love Lifted Me”
This is my sister singing the first part of this powerful song at the Christmas Eve Concert at Middle Church.
She dedicated the song in memory to our Dad, since “Love Lifted Me” was his favorite hymn!
I could listen to her sing Gospel music all day!
My Dad would be so honored and proud!
My Mom would be singing right along, too!!
Love Lifts All of Us!!
Amen!
“Love Lifted Me”
Middle Church Jerriese Johnson Choir
To learn more about Middle Church visit:
http://www.middlechurch.org
Dec27
Dead Lizard!! Dead Lizard!!
I had the most amazing conversation with a little boy on a bicycle, while I was taking a walk around my neighborhood last week!
I was just past the new construction site I told you about in a precious post…
“Haven’t Seen One Of These Around Here In A While!!”
I was listening to my inspirational Gospel tunes on my iPod, and thinking…
“Things are progressing nicely at the construction site!”
My Dad was a carpenter, so every step in the building process interests me!
I remember as kids, my Dad would ride us by every house he had built, and proudly say, “I built that house!”
I perhaps didn’t appreciate it then, but after having built all our houses over the years…
I appreciate it now…
Great job, Dad!!
Anyway…
Suddenly, this little boy, perhaps 6 or 7 years old, came barreling at me on his bicycle…
While I was thinking, reminiscing, and listening to my music…
Shouting, “Dead Lizard!! Dead Lizard!!”
I pulled out one ear bud…
And said, “What!?!”
He repeated it again!
“Dead Lizard!! Dead Lizard!!”
“Where?” I said…
He pointed up ahead…
“Want to see it?” he asked…
“Of course!” I said…
I just love kids!! Don’t you???
I see people on my walks all the time…
Mostly those walking their dogs…
I don’t walk mine, my husband does that…
Because my crazy Siberian pulls my arm out of its socket!
It’s not a calm walk!! Ha!!
Anyway, I talk to a lot of people on my walks, pet their dogs, say “Have a nice day,” etc.
And not once has anyone said anything as amazing as,
“Dead Lizard!! Dead Lizard!!”
That’s why I love kids!!
So the kid on the bicycle turned his bike in the direction I was walking…
And raced to show me the way to the dead lizard you see in the photo!!
Soon, he turned back to me as I was apparently following too slowly!
“Come on!” he said…
“Can’t you run???”
Apparently he doesn’t understand age! Ha!
So I walked a little faster to please him!
When we got to the dead lizard…
He proudly pointed to it, and said, “There it is!”
“Ahh,” I said.
“You’re right, it’s definitely dead, alright!
How do you think it died?” I asked…
“Did you run over it with your bike???”
In FL, little lizards run back and forth, and in front and around you all the time…
I remember when we came to FL for vacation, before we moved here, when my son was young…
That he went to grab one, and it let go of its tail to get away…
My son started crying, thinking he had killed it…
But we explained to him that it’s their defense mechanism…
And they can grow their tail back again!
Quite amazing little creatures, these “Lizzies!!”
So the little boy on the bicycle says…
“No, I didn’t run it over…
I found it this way!!”
I’m glad I came along for him to share his “find” with!! Ha!
After we looked at it for awhile, I said…
“Merry Christmas, and thanks for showing me the dead lizard!”
And he turned to ride back the way he was going, and I continued on my walk…
Quickly though, he had another thought and said…
“When you go around the corner and see a black truck…
That’s my Dad’s truck…
Say to him, ‘Bryson said, Hi!'”
“Oh, you live around the corner?” I asked…
“We’re renting!” he said…
“Okay, I’ll tell him!” I said as I continued walking…
He turned his bike around, and sped off ahead of me, to make sure I gave his Dad the correct message…
And beat me there!
Sure enough, there was his Dad washing his black truck!
So I said, “I’m supposed to tell you that Bryson said Hi!”
He laughed, that laugh that’s says, “Yup, I know my kid and that’s exactly what he’d say!!”
Bryson called to his Dad, “We saw a dead lizard!!”
His Dad said, “Great!
And Bryson, remember, stay where I can see you!”
While doing the “I’m-watching-you” motions…
“I know that, Dad,” he replied…
And then he pedaled away, but on his own block this time!
So I said, “Merry Christmas, Bryson”
And he said, “You already said that!”
Yes, he’s right…I did!
Dear Jesus…how can anyone hurt a child???
Dec13
“Christmas On The Beachside”
I just heard this song on the radio last week…
I love it!
And if you’re from a beautiful tropical area…
You’re going to love it too!!
It’s by Austin Adamec, and featuring Lindsey Ciresi…
It’s called “Christmas On The Beachside”
I couldn’t find the lyrics…
So I listened to it a thousand times!
Ha!
I hope I got them right!!
“Christmas on the Beachside…
Gotta love the Beachside…
It’s wintertime…
And it’s so far from snowin’…
The palms are swaying…
And we’re jumpin’ in the ocean…
The sun shines on the waves in December…
The Birthday of the Savior…
We celebrate together!
Christmas on the Beachside…
Underneath the blue sky…
No need for sleigh rides…
The surf is just right…
Christmas on the Beachside…
It’s the Salt Life…
Because Jesus is the reason…
No matter what the season…
On the Beachside…
Fire from chimneys…
Presents near the fire…
It’s getting hotter…
Soakin’ out the weather…
Snuggies and comfy Christmas sweaters…
Can’t compare when you’re…
Breakin’ in the water…
Though the Holiday may fade away…
We will always find a way…
Red & green may dissipate
We will Always Celebrate
Christmas on the Beachside!!”
Dec12
Haven’t Seen One Of These Around Here In A While!!
First, ruts in the mud…
Made by tire tracks digging in…
And then a Porta-Potty!!
On a New Construction Site!!
Yipee…
Building…
Is Back!!
The economy is slowly picking up again!!
Never thought I’d be happy…
To see a Porta-Potty…
On my walk around my…
Usually lush, green neighborhood…
But, it just goes to show you…
That everything is relative!
Not a very pretty sight…
But…
The Porta-Potty means building is going on…
In our spiritual lives…
Building’s going on all the time!
Listen to:
“You Build Us Back” by the Newsboys
Here are the lyrics…
“We’ve been crumbled…
We’ve been crushed…
City walls have turned to dust!
Broken hands…
And blistered feet…
We walk for miles to find relief!
When the thief takes…
When our hopes cave…
You Build Us Back!
When the earth shakes…
When the world breaks…
You Build Us Back!
We are scared…
We are poor…
All our safety nets are torn!
We’ve been humbled to our knees…
From these ruins…
We believe!
Redeemer…
Redeem us!
Restorer…
Restore us!
Oh! Build Us Back!
Though the mountains be shaken…
The hills be removed…
Your unfailing love remains!
After all that’s been taken…
Your promise…
Still sacred!
You Build Us Back…
With precious stones!”
Build Us Back, Lord!
And Our Economy, too! Amen!
Dec12
“If you look for Me at Christmas” by Valerie Kingsbury
Someone sent this to me through e-mail…
Perhaps you’ve seen it, too!
It’s worth sharing!
I love it!
Dec6
One Of Us!
Kids Church object lesson taken from the Called To Kids website, July 19, 2010 by Marla,
Filed under Holiday Lessons, Jesus
“…She will give birth to a son…
And they will call him Immanuel…
Which means ‘God is with us.’”
Matthew 1:23 (NLT)
There was once a man sitting in his living room by the fireplace on a cold winter’s day. Outside, snow was falling and had already covered the ground.
The man heard a tapping on the window and turned to see a small bird pecking at the glass with its beak. It was lost and cold, suffering out in the bitter weather.
Feeling sorry for the bird, the man walked outside so that he could help it inside and save its life. But when he came close to the bird, it got scared and flew away.
So the man went inside once again, realizing that his plan to help the bird had failed.
A few minutes later as the man rested by the warm fire, he heard once again the sound of tapping on the window.
He turned to see the same bird trying to get into the house and escape the freezing cold weather outside.
This time as the man walked onto the front lawn he saw many other birds also trying to find warmth. One by one he came close to them, trying to help, but each of them got scared and few away.
Frustrated, the man walked back inside. “If only I could become a bird,” he thought. “Then I could speak their language. They would know that I am only trying to help them and save their lives.”
After Adam and Eve sinned, they began to die. Since then, we’ve been like those little birds—lost and suffering in our sin. Every time God has tried to come close and take us into His loving care, we’ve run away from Him.
Like the man trying to save the birds, God had to find a way to become one of us, to speak our language and help us to understand Him.
So He sent His son Jesus, who is just like Him, to come and live on this earth with us.
Just like that man left the comfort of the fireplace to go out into the cold and try to help the birds, Jesus left His home in Heaven to come to this earth to save us.
Jesus spoke our language and told us of God’s love for us.
He told us that God wants to take us in as His children.
One of the names of Jesus is Immanuel.
That means “God is with us.”
God came to us as a person, as Jesus, and walked on this earth.
He understands us and He loves us.
Instead of running away from God, we need to run to Him.
Remember, Jesus is God with us.
Someone e-mailed me this photo…I’m sorry I don’t know who the photographer is…but I love it!
“How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7 (NLT)
“He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust…”
Psalm 91:4
Dec6
Happy Birthday, Jesus!
Listen to:
“Happy Birthday Jesus”
Performed by- The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
It’s a favorite of mine…
Because it’s sung by little children!
Here are some of the lyrics…
“Happy Birthday Jesus…
I’m so glad it’s Christmas!
All the tinsel and lights…
And the presents are nice…
But the real gift is You…
Happy Birthday Jesus…
I’m so glad it’s Christmas!
All the carols and bells…
Make the holiday swell…
And it’s all about You!
Happy Birthday Jesus…
Jesus, I love You!”
I love this song’s child-like innocence…
Matthew 18:3 NIV says…
“…I tell you the truth, unless you change…
And become like little children…
You will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Do you need the gift of a Silent Night?
Give yourself a gift this Christmas…
Jesus is your gift!
Celebrate His Birthday!
Come to His Birthday Party!
And sing…
Happy Birthday, Jesus!
Jesus, I love You!
Dec5
Dear Santa…I Want!!
Dear Santa…
I want a brand new…
And much better camera…
I want my husband to agree to let me get the floor tiles in my house professionally cleaned…
I want Play tickets to see my friend’s daughter in “Sister Act”…
I want to lose weight, even though it’s Christmas…
I want…
I want…
I want…
Dear Santa…
I really, really need you to gimme all the things on this list!!!
Dear Jesus…
I want a little peace right here…
So, I need only You…
Ahhhhh…
The Peace in having the right perspective this Christmas!
Listen to…
“I Need A Silent Night”
By Amy Grant
Our Drama Team will be acting out this song for our Christmas Outreaches…
Here are the lyrics:
“I’ve made the same mistake before…
Too many malls…too many stores…
December traffic…
Christmas rush…
It breaks me…
‘Til I push and shove…
Children are crying…
While mothers are trying…
To photograph Santa and sleigh…
The shopping and buying…
And standing forever in line…
What can I say?
I need a Silent Night…
A Holy Night…
To hear an Angel voice…
Through the chaos and the noise…
I need a midnight clear…
A little Peace right here…
To end this crazy day…
With a Silent Night!
December comes…
Then disappears…
Faster and faster every year…
Did my own mother…
Keep this pace…
Or was the world a different place?
Where people stayed home…
Wishing for snow…
Watching three channels on their TV…
Look at us now rushing around…
Trying to buy Christmas Peace…
I need a Silent Night…
A Holy Night…
To hear an Angel voice…
Through the chaos and the noise…
I need a midnight clear…
A little Peace right here…
To end this crazy day…
With a Silent Night!
What was it like back there in Bethlehem…
With Peace on Earth…
Good Will Toward Men?
And there were…
Shepherd’s out in the field…
Keeping watch over their flock by night…
And the Glory of the Lord…
Shone around them…
And they were so afraid…
And the Angels said…
‘Fear Not!
For behold…
I bring you Good News…
Of a Great Joy…
That shall be for all people…
For unto you is born this day…
A Savior…
Who is Christ the Lord…
And His Name shall be called…
Wonderful!
Counselor!
Prince of Peace!’
I need a Silent Night…
A Holy Night…
To hear an Angel voice…
Through the chaos and the noise…
I need a midnight clear…
A little Peace right here…
To end this crazy day….
With a Silent Night…”
Ahhhhh….
Thank You, Jesus…
For ending this crazy day…
With a Silent Night!
Dec5
Give Birth In A Stable!
Re-posting of my previous post called “Living In The Stable”
Part of the glorious Christmas Story…
Involves living in a stable!
How do we go from “Living in a Stable” to
“Sitting in the Heavenly Throne Room with Christ?”
How do we get from the hardship of the stable to the glory of the throne?
We trust and wait!
What do we do when there’s no room in the Inn?
We give birth in a stable!
Here’s my definition of a stable:
“A Stable is a place we find ourselves physically, emotionally, or spiritually, where we don’t want to be!”
Mary & Joseph wanted to be back in their home in Nazareth in Galilee, or at least in the Inn in Bethlehem…
Especially when Mary was ready to give birth!!
But, they found themselves in the stable!
It’s a mistake to label someone in a “stable” situation as:
A transient…
A fugitive…
A drifter…
An orphan…
Often a gradual process of circumstances got us there.
I know my All-Powerful God…
Could have delivered…
Jesus, Mary, & Joseph…
Out of the stable…
Kept them in Nazareth in Galilee…
And not sent them to Bethlehem in Judea…
But there was a purpose…
And a prophecy that had to be fulfilled!
What is the prophecy concerning us…
And our families?
What is our promise from God…
That needs to be fulfilled…
Because we’re in a stable right now?
Are we…
Like Jesus…
Headed for the throne room?
We are…
If we know Christ!
How did baby Jesus get from the stable…
To the throne?
Through suffering and trials…
’Til He went back to the Father…
True for us, too!
Suffering and trials…
‘Til we return to our Father in Heaven!
But, we can bless our Father through our trials…
Jesus did!
How long did Jesus, Mary, and Joseph stay in the stable?
One day?
Two days?
A while…
What were the conditions?
Stables are smelly…
Loud with animal sounds…
Uncomfortable…
Lacking the simplest comforts…
Lacking family support…
And it’s a lifestyle…
That is at the mercy of strangers!
Have we ever found ourselves in a stable?
Was there stress?
Mary glorified God…
Even after submitting to a pregnancy…
She could never explain…
Months of village criticism…
And all God’s requirements for bearing the Son of God!
Our belief…
And obedience…
Is what magnifies God!
From The Fruit Of The Spirit Bible, we read:
“It is always the heaviness of the burden…
That teaches us the best song.”
Mary was faithful…
Which I define as:
“Always doing what God tells us to do…
Exactly when He tells us to do it!”
Amen!!
Patience never argues with God,
And it has a habit of praising God…
While it waits for miracles to take place!
There’s never any reason to hurry God!
“May it be to me as God has said!” Mary prayed…
And then she sang as she waited!
Who was there with them in the stable?
No family…
But God knew where they were!
And He blessed Mary and Joseph…
With the birth of their son…
Jesus…
In a stable!
And worship…
And support…
Came to the stable from everywhere…
Even Shepherds need a Savior!
He knows where we are, too…
Even if we’re in a stable…
And, He will bless us with birth, too!
Perhaps, the birth of a needed job…
The birth of a home of our own…
The birth of a long-held dream…
The birth of a vision…
And the birth of a purpose!
What was the result of Mary & Joseph’s stable experience?
Christmas!
Jesus’ birth in a stable…
Brought joy…
Brought faith…
Brought hope…
Brought vision…
And brought a promise for us!
It got the attention of angels…
Kings…
Magi…
And shepherds!
In our stable experience…
We can’t discount the enemy at work…
But don’t give him any glory either!
Satan’s a liar!
We shouldn’t ask…
“Why are we here in this stable, Lord??”
We need to ask…
“What are You trying to birth in us, Lord…
Right here in this stable?”
We must know that God plans…
To take us from the stable…
To the throne…
Just as He did for His Son…
Jesus!
But, we’ve got to let Him!
Hope is here!
We’re children of God!
And, this is the season when God reminds us…
Of His Love!
Christmas is for those of us in the stable…
So God can show us…
That His purpose…
Is to bring us out of the stable…
To His throne!
We’ve got to go to God…
And want everything He wants for us!!
We need to be faithful…
To God’s favor and guidance…
Even in the stable…
Of small beginnings…
To get to the glorious ending…
The throne!!
Even if we’re in a “stable” situation right now…
We must accept the gift of Jesus…
Because even in the stable…
God’s right there with us!!
Remember!
His Son was born there!
And, once we’re out of the stable…
Don’t look back…
Just look up…
To where the throne is!
Amen!!
I preached this sermon last year when our Drama Team ministered at our local Homeless Shelter…
I preached it for me…
And I needed to hear it again…
Thanks for letting me re-post it!
From Pastor Ron Gray’s Christmas Newsletter:
“One of the great truths concerning Christmas is that Christ came to us.
So many times we tend to think that we came to Him.
It was the love of God for His creation that caused Him to send His Son.
He came to redeem us.
He came to bring us abundant life.
He came to be our Savior, Lord, and King.
Today…
Jesus comes and brings light, hope, and a future…
I believe that God will come to you today in the middle of whatever you are going through.
You may think He is not interested,
but I believe He cares,
and He knows what you are dealing with.
Jesus is making Himself real to you today.
Give Him an opportunity to work.
Stop for just a moment and talk to Him.
He has come to you to bring you joy.
I trust Him today to work a miracle in your life.”
“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself RESTORE you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” I Peter 5:10
You can’t have Christmas without Christ!
Christ is the heart of Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
And God’s Abundant Peace to all of you!
godssceneryandpromises 