I recently saw an article that stated that “most people are sheep.” It then proved their theory by doing an experiment in some kind of waiting room. A woman entered a full waiting room and took a seat. After awhile, there was a dinging noise and everyone in the waiting room stood up and then sat down again when the ringing stopped. The newest addition to the room, the woman, stood up, too. She had no way of knowing the reason for her own compliance…she just followed the herd so that she didn’t stand out! This “experiment” continued for quite some time; slowly, the room become empty and the woman was the lone survivor in the waiting room. Even after all the people were gone, she STILL stood when she heard the bell ring! She had become conditioned to be a sheep even when no one was there to see her actions!

Being the same person out in public as you are behind closed doors is INTEGRITY: “Being whole and consistent.” This is a great quality to possess. The woman in the experiment may not have had a deep conviction for why she followed the herd in the waiting room, but she stayed consistent…she continued to stand when she heard the ringing of the bell even when she was alone in the room!

“Have you ever heard the saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything”? That woman in the experiment didn’t know what she was standing up for…she just did it because others were doing it! You have to know what you believe BEFORE you are faced with a tough choice. Your children need to know what they believe before they are asked to do something that goes against their values. If you are following other sheep or if you are faced with wolves or other predators, you can be led astray. If you are being led by the Shepard, then you will be brought to green pastures and will be safe.

The following lyrics are from Amy Grant‘s song “Everywhere I Go“-

I have seen you in the evening
In the morning light you hold me
Closer than the air around me
You surround me always

Everywhere I go
I see your face through the crowd
I hear your voice clear and loud
You are the light that I seek
You have found me

-He is always there…leading you….”He hems you in from behind and before” (Psalm 139:5)

If someone called ME a sheep, that would be fine with me….because JESUS is MY Shepard and I WILL follow Him wherever He leads me!

IS Jesus your Shepard? Is He the one that leads you?

Daily Verse-

–Psalm 23:1-4

Daily Prayer:

Lord, be with me today. Refresh my soul. Guide me along the right paths. You are my comfort and my very present help in times of trouble. Take away any fear I may possess and put a hedge of protection around me and keep me from all evil. Amen.

On my wedding day, I chose to wear a veil that covered my face. Once Carter and I were pronounced “husband and wife,” the veil was lifted and Carter could then kiss me. We were no longer separated by the veil…or anything else. That was the moment that we had true intimacy and were considered “one.” The definition of intimacy is “marked by very close association; comfortable; cozy.”

The Tabernacle, made during the time of Moses, was a holy place where people were able to worship the Lord. People would go to the Tabernacle and make their prayers and petitions known to a priest and the priest would go to the throne on their behalf. There was no real intimacy with God for them. You can worship God without having a personal relationship with Him. He longs for an intimate relationship with you….and that involves your time as well as divulging your desires, emotions and goals….you get to know someone by talking to them, having experiences with them and having commonalities. Getting to know someone takes effort!

The Tabernacle was divided into sections: the first room was the inner room which consisted of an alter and a brazen laver (like a wash basin); next, was the outer room or The Holy Place; then there was the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place. Only the high priest could enter here…and only once a year…on Yom Kippur. There was a veil dividing the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies-a very thick curtain (said to be 4 inches thick) that guarded people from accessing the Ark of the Covenant and coming into the presence of God.

When Jesus Christ cried out on the cross and took His last breath, the curtain was torn in two, the earth shook and the rocks split. (Matthew 27:51) Jesus Christ became our High Priest and He allows us ALL to come to Him. John 14:16-17 tells us that we were given the Holy Spirit and He will be in us…we no longer need a third party to be involved like a wizard hiding behind a curtain…we can go right to the throne! Until Christ died on the cross, people were separated from Him and couldn’t have a personal relationship (intimacy) with Him…the Holy Spirit was only with a few select people at a time.

We celebrated Easter a few weeks ago. Easter is set aside to remind us that He lives and gives us eternal life with Him.  Easter is fun to celebrate but as believers, we can rejoice daily that He is alive! Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone that calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The Holy Spirit is now living inside of us….not in the ark of the covenant behind the veil-“For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”-2 Corinthians 6:16

Nothing can separate us from the love of God…not our sin, not a veil or curtain, not another person. I am so glad that each and every day is new and brings new mercies. My constant prayer is “Lord, I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.”-Psalm 61:4 –I want to be face to face with Him in that tent…no separation between us at all, don’t you?

Water…Have you ever thought about how much we rely on water? Each and every day, I use water to: brush my teeth, make coffee, wash my face and shower/bathe, different types of cooking and baking, washing our clothing; farmers need water for their crops to grow so that we have fruit,vegetables, grain; our yards need water to flourish.

71% of the earth’s surface is water. Oceans hold 96.5% of the earth’s water. 60% of our body is made up of water! Blood is 92% water. Our brains and muscles are 75% water. They say we can go about a month without any food, but we can only survive for 1 week without water!

Without water, we can become dehydrated and there is a litany of side effects that come from dehydration: dizziness/feeling faint, dry mouth, sleepiness, irritability, confusion, dry skin, constipation, etc.

Water is mentioned more than 700 times in the bible-that is pretty significant.

• Jesus walked on water-Matthew 14:22-33…He wanted to teach the doubters to have more faith
• Jesus turned water into wine for a wedding…John 2:1-11…This miracle showed His glory and proves the best truly does come in the end
• Jesus washed the disciples feet…John 13:4-17….Jesus wants them..and us…to understand that no one is too good to serve others and that once their feet are washed by Him, they are truly clean
• Jesus is baptized by John…John 3:13-17….This proved that Jesus approved of John’s own baptism…that is was from God and that we can exchange sin for righteousness when we ourselves are baptized
• Moses has his life spared by being placed in a basket as a baby and floats down the river to a new life…Exodus 2:1-10…Moses becomes a great leader and brings the Israelites out of bondage
• Moses parts the Red Sea…Exodus 14:21-31…with God we are saved from Satan and death and sin
• Jesus has an encounter with a Samaritan woman (or “the woman at the well”)…John 4:7-26…He proves that He is the Messiah and that anyone that drinks the water that He provides will never thirst again…WE NEED HIM!

Jordan Feliz has a song called “The River”…his lyrics are refreshing-

I know a place where we can go
To lay the troubles down eating your soul
I know a place where mercy flows
Take the stains make you whiter than snow

Like a tide, it is rising up deep inside a current that moves and makes you come alive
Living water that brings the dead to life, oh-oh-oh-oh

We’re going down to the river
Down to the river, down to the river to pray
Let’s get washed by the water
Washed by the water and rise up in amazing grace
Let’s go down, down, down to the river (You will leave changed)

Jesus is the living water and He can wash us and make us come alive….

I was at a women’s church retreat a week ago, and our speaker, Debbie Street Childers, spoke about Joshua and the crossing of the Jordan River; she said that the rocks in the water were smoother than the rocks that were not in contact with the water. HE makes us smoother and more refined….our ragged and rough edges are made better simply by being immersed in Him!! I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine my life without water for a week, but I definitely cannot fathom even one day without HIM…the living water!!

Angels. What comes to mind? Cupid with an arrow? Fat, naked babies with wings? Maybe a halo? Dressed in white singing in a choir in Heaven? Angels are mentioned almost 300 times in the Bible. There are many ideas of what they look like and also what their roles and functions may be:

They can be decorations…do you have an angel on top of your Christmas tree? Maybe you have a statue or a fountain.

They are represented in art and paintings…in the 1500s, artist Raphael became famous for his cherubs in the Sistine Madonna…the cherubs were at the bottom of the painting with the Christ Child being held by the Madonna.

Angels are often talismans for good luck…guardian angels…on necklaces or medallions. Ever heard, “Don’t drive faster than your guardian angel can fly”?

Angel-noun-1) A spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God,  believed conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe. OR 2) A person of exemplary conduct or virtue.

a) I would like to think that I am an agent or messenger of God…that I am “the hands and feet of Jesus” for many people.

b) I cannot say that I have lived my life in the past setting a great example for others, but I have changed so much in the last 15 years and I know I will continue to grow and mature as I draw closer to Him.

#1…Protectors/Guardians-“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.“-Psalm 91:11

Christian singer Amy Grant’s song “Angels Watching Over Me” says:

Angels watching over me, every move I make,
Angels watching over me!
Angels watching over me, every step I take,
Angels watching over me!…..though I never see with human eyes, the hands that lead me home.

Country Group Alabama has a song called “Angels Among Us”…I love how they view an angel’s role:

Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.

#2…Messengers-

In Luke 1:26, an angel comes to Mary and tells her that she is highly favored and that she will give birth to the Son of the Most High.  In Matthew 1:20-21, an angel comes to Joseph and tells him not to worry about taking Mary as his wife and that Jesus would save his people from their sins. And in Luke 2:9-12, angels come to the shepherds out in the field and tell them that Jesus has been born and that He is the Messiah. Luke 2:14-“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”…they were going to tell of the good news, too!

#3…Comforters-

Upon seeing that Jesus’ body was missing from the tomb: “Two angels in white were sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’…she turned around and there was Jesus in a new unrecognizable form and He told her not to despair that she would see Him again -John 20:12

Luke 22:43 is about an angel coming to Jesus while He is in the garden praying in the hours before He is to be crucified…”now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.” Letting Him know He was not alone…bringing a bit of comfort.

• I would do anything to protect my kids, my family and my friends
• I try to be a messenger of good things and not the bearer of bad news
• I am definitely an encourager and comforter and try to be helpful…but I am no angel.

In the book of Revelation, it says that angels will be in Heaven waging war against the dragon (Satan)…so fighting against the evil realm and the Enemy himself!

So whatever the type of angel it may be or what their appointed role is, they are obedient to God and they are fulfilling His will in some way…so they are good…just as GOD IS GOOD…ALL THE TIME!

Luke 2:14-“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Merry CHRISTmas!!!

You all know those “tests” on Facebook where you answer a few questions or you pick your favorites in a series of pictures and you find out what state you should live in or what your name should have been, etc. Well, the other day, all I had to do was type in my name and I was told what word I should focus on in 2016-JOY. OK…that is pretty generic and could apply to just about everyone as we close out 2015 and prepare for a new year, right? Be more optimistic, find the good in all circumstances, be happy no matter what comes your way.  I think most of us are content when the good stuff is happening in our lives…when we have money in the bank, when we are healthy, when our relationships are going well, when the kids are behaving, etc, etc…but what about the hardships?

Over the next several days, I was inundated with references to “joy“…I would scroll down on Facebook and see a bible verse about “joy” or I would notice a decorative rug in my powder room with “JOY” on it, or I would reach for a coffee mug and there was Snoopy..with the word “joy” on it; I was shopping and saw something that reminded me of my friend Joy; then I notice my friend’s tattoo on her wrist-“joy” and then a few minutes later the author/speaker at my bible study talks about “parenting with joy!” OK, God…what are you trying to say, here?! I’m listening.

Let’s look at the definition of JOY–“a strong feeling of great happiness; delight; a state or source of contentment or satisfaction.” Joy is a fruit of the Spirit…the more time you spend with God, the more time you spend immersed in the Word, the more you focus on the blessings in your life….you just might discover JOY!

Kay Warren has come up with her own definition of JOY-“the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life; the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” Philippians 4:11-12 says,”I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity.

Do you remember these verses from your childhood? Did you sing it at church or in Vacation Bible School?

I’ve Got the Joy In My Heart

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart

Where?

Down in my heart!

Where?

Down in my heart!

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart

Down in my heart to stay”

I don’t think most people can sing those words and really mean them…not all the time anyway…I can’t…can you? Those words are deep down in a lot of us…those feelings might be there; we may feel them trickle out from time to time, but they aren’t oozing out of us ready to infect those around us!

I can recall asking my daughter, Cassidy, when she was about 6, what she thought “joy” meant and she triumphantly exclaimed, “It’s when you want to shout ‘YIPPEE!'” The sweet innocence of a child…HER joy was all over her!

And then there is the acronym for JOY–

J-Jesus

O-Others

Y-Yourself

I should focus first and foremost on Jesus, then other people and their needs and lastly, myself. I should spend time with Jesus, read the bible, listen to praise and worship music, pray, minister to others and have “an attitude of gratitude.” The things we fill our time and energy doing will fill our hearts, our minds and our attitudes.

Psalm 30:5 reminds us that “weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Steven Curtis Chapman has a song “Do Everything” and it speaks to all the mundane details that go on in a normal day…matching up socks, sweeping up cheerios, picking up toys for the 15th time that day….”do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you….” It is certainly not easy to be excited about irritations and interruptions, but we are here on this earth for a much greater purpose….to honor and glorify Our Father! In Nehemiah 8:10, we are told “do not grieve, for the JOY of the Lord is our strength.” As for ME….I choose JOY!

Do you have room for Him? Will you prepare your heart for Him? Will you let HIM fill you with JOY! “JOY to the world…the Lord is come…let earth receive her King…let every heart prepare Him room”….YIPPEE!!!

God gave Moses and the Israelites the Ten Commandments to test them so that the fear of God would be with them and would  keep them from sinning (Exodus 20:20). Proverbs 14:27 says, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” God gives us even more guidance throughout the Bible…ordinances that weren’t a part of the Ten Commandments but are important nonetheless.

• Take care of your body-“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit”-1 Corinthians 6:19
• Don’t drink too much alcohol-“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery”-Ephesians 5:18
• Love people-“Love your neighbor as yourself”-Mark 12:31
• Forgive continually-Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone that sins against him; Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”-Matthew 18:22
• Do not be in debt-“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another”-Romans 13:8
• Care for orphans and widows-“Look after orphans and widows in their distress”-James 1:2
• Mentor those younger and less experienced than you-“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned”-Titus 2:7-8
• Give generously-“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”-2 Corinthians 9:7

I gave my heart and my life to Christ 16 years ago….I am a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)…yet I am still a sinner. I strive to be better all the time, but I continually fail.

Do I take good care of my body? No…I should eat healthier…eat clean; I should drink more water and I should make exercise a part of my daily routine.

Do I drink too much? I may have a glass of wine…or 2…from time to time…I enjoy it…but I could certainly omit that from my daily routine…it isn’t necessary.

Do I love ALL people? NO…There are people in this world that are simply “hard to love”…no one likes everyone…there are people in this world that are combative and argumentative and just plain grumpy…and seemingly for no reason.

Do I always forgive? Definitely not. I want to…I try to…but then I dwell on the infraction, I have a “silent sermon” with the offender in my head, I may even act differently toward the person for awhile.

Am I debt-free? NO…we don’t have a car payment and we aren’t “hugely” in debt but I use credit cards and will often purchase something without having the cash in my bank account; I live above my means for sure…it is the “I Want Syndrome” and the “I Can’t Wait Any Longer Epidemic.”

Am I caring for orphans and widows? Not really…not the way the Bible calls us to do; I love children, but I haven’t adopted or fostered (yet) and I know that my mother-in-law and grandmother would benefit from a lot more love, help and encouragement than I already give.

Am I mentoring younger ladies? I truly feel like God has placed this on my heart recently…there are many opportunities for me to get involved in-Young Lives, the middle school and high school girls at church, my own daughters…I know perfection isn’t a requirement to mentor, BUT…come on…I am not the ideal model for them!

Do I give generously? I actually think that I DO…my main “Love Language” is gifts and giving, being hospitable, offering encouragement, doing acts of service for others…but I KNOW I have more talents and resources to give and I could use my time more responsibly to allow additional contributions.

My friend, Joy, recently said “I want my children to do what I say because they WANT to not just because they HAVE to”…and that is how I long to live my life as well…WANTING..wanting to give, wanting to mentor, wanting to forgive, wanting to care for others, wanting to love….and better yet…not just WANTING, but DOING-James 1:22-“do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO WHAT IT SAYS!” “Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things”-Philippians 4:8 I think about these things all the time…now I need to take action!

Exodus 20 tells us what God commands His chosen people:

1. Only have ONE God….THE ONE true God
2. Do not have any idols
3. Do not say the Lord’s name without respect
4. Remember the Sabbath Day
5. Honor and respect your parents
6. Do not KILL
7. Be FAITHFUL to your spouse all the days of your life
8. Do not take things that do not belong to you
9. Do not LIE and gossip about people
10. Do not yearn and pine for things that belong to others…do not be JEALOUS

These are directed at YOU…and at ME…they aren’t “old” laws or just for Biblical stories…God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow….UNCHANGING!! His laws don’t change either!

WOW…what would it look like if we took The Ten Commandments seriously and made them apply to our daily lives?!

1. I love God…MY God…MY Heavenly Father…there is no room for other gods…PERIOD.
2. Idol-noun-something worshiped or adored; Idolize-verb-to admire with excessive admiration or love. Idols can come in MANY forms: people, possessions, passions…they can be pitfalls…if a relationship, Facebook, drugs, alcohol, food, tv series, ETC have a high ranking position in your life…and God is NOT placed higher than those things….there is a problem!
3. Saying, “Jesus Christ” as a curse word…or “GD”…or any other variation of these is DISRESPECTFUL…it is rude and disobedient…and not submissive to Him.
4. Sundays (or your designated Sabbath Day), should be for church, church activities, spending time with family, reflecting on all His goodness in your life…not cleaning the house, catching up on work for the office, not doing homework, not being stressed…you should rest in Him.
5. Even as an adult, you should have a high regard or respect for your parents…even with their mistakes, short-comings and imperfections….they are your earthly parents that your Heavenly Father hand-picked for YOU…His child…He makes no mistakes!
6. People and animals are God’s creation and He has numbered their days…no one else gets to decide that!
7. “Monogamy” (the state of being married to one person; having one sexual partner; the habit of having only one mate) and “monotonous” (lacking variety) do not have to go hand-in-hand
8. If it wasn’t a gift or you didn’t earn it…it’s not yours…don’t take it!!
9. Don’t say mean things about someone. Don’t fill someone’s head with negative stuff about another person. Didn’t your mama tell you, “If you can’t say something nice…don’t say anything at all”?! That’s pretty good advice right there!
10. We all have desires, wants, wishes, goals, and dreams….but be happy for others’ accomplishments and the goals they have reached….God has a perfect plan…He makes NO mistakes…wait for those BLESSINGS…they will come in His time.

I would love to say that following and obeying the Ten Commandments are not an issue for me…But I would be LYING!

I might have idols…I love my alone time with my coffee…I love wine, I adore books, SHOPPPING!!!!…quite possibly my favorite past time, I have so many tv shows and movies that I could spend a large chunk of my day in front of the “boob tube”….food…especially at the holidays…I definitely don’t “eat to live.”

There are many times when I have probably killed people with my words

I am jealous (covet) when others have something “cool” or I think I deserve it more than them. I WANT, I WANT, I WANT…I want a new house, I want the kind of marriage they have, I want her face/body, I want what I don’t have….and maybe I never will…I must be content in all circumstances.

Yesterday was a Sunday (Sabbath Day), and I was gone from my house from 9am until 6pm…I DID go to church, I did do a few nice things for other people, I was with my kids; but my husband…our provider and protector, was on an airplane to get to a business meeting; we were BUSY all day and hardly RESTED in HIM at all.

My earthly daddy has passed away, but my mom is still (thankfully) in my life….but I have been disrespectful, unappreciative, unforgiving and unsympathetic...to both of them…it doesn’t matter the reason why…they are my parents and I should honor and respect them…we can disagree without being disrespectful or rude!

I am so ashamed to say that I have listened to gossip, I have offered gossip and even been the target of gossip and it is so evil…nothing good comes from it at all!

I have NEVER cheated on my husband…in the literal sense, BUT…I have lusted after actors, people I encounter everyday catch my eye, there are even some CHRISTIAN rock stars that are HOT!! Matthew 5:28 is very clear, “But I say to you anyone who looks at another lustfully has committed adultery in their heart.”

And these are just a FEW of my failures and mistakes…I am a sinner.

Romans 3:10-“No one is righteous-not even one”…this applies to me, you and all of humanity….however, Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and PERFECTER of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” The battle has already been won….we just need to “fight the good fight of faith”-1 Timothy 6:12. It may seem down right impossible, but nothing is impossible without Him. (Luke 1:37)

It’s beginning to look a lot like CHRISTmas….

“These are a few of my favorite things:”

• The cooler weather
• The fragrant wreaths and trees (even if your husband is allergic to live ones)
• The fashion…sweaters, boots, scarves
• the holiday music
• The “Christmas with Southern Living” book arriving in the mail box
• Baking Christmas cookies and other goodies
• Decorating the tree
• Packages on the front porch
• Beautifully wrapped presents…giving and receiving
• Driving around and looking at the lights
• Hallmark movies
• Sitting on the couch with only the tree lights to see by
• visits from our Elves
• Seeing out-of-town family and friends
• Pictures with Santa at the mall
• “White Elephant” parties
• Making gingerbread houses
• New PJs on Christmas Eve
• Setting up the Nativity scene
• Putting money in the Salvation Army bucket
• Stocking stuffers
• Doing crafts I found on Pinterest
• Receiving cards in the mail instead of just bills
• Placing items in the Toys For Tots bins
• Leaving cookies and milk for Santa
• Eggnog…spiked or plain, hot chocolate and hot apple cider
• filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child/Samaritan’s Purse
• Candle-lit church service on Christmas Eve
• Reading Christmas books before bedtime each night
• Advent wreathes
• English crackers at the dinner table
• Count-down calendars with chocolate behind the perforated “doors”
• Singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus on Christmas morning

I LOVE IT ALL!!! I am probably even overlooking some of my favorite seasonal festivities. But do I anticipate the REASON behind this flurry of activity or just all the ACTIVITY!?!?

For about 6 weeks or so…from the week before Thanksgiving until a few days after the New Year….I am in a GREAT mood….I am jovial, excited, generous…I am looking forward to what lies ahead!!! But what about the other 46 weeks of the year?? I am a Christian every single day of the year..not just during those 6 weeks of holiday prep and celebration. Rain or shine…good mood or bad mood…sick or healthy…JESUS’ birth, death & resurrection and future coming are ALL cause for great rejoicing-I should have an attitude of Thanksgiving and reverence on a daily basis! I love Jesus, so why is this so hard to achieve?! Because we live in a fallen world…“for as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”-1 Corinthians 15:22…and we are surrounded by sinners that live by their flesh, their desires and their selfishness…pretty simple answer really.

Jesus was born in a simple shelter on a quiet evening…maybe a few animal bleats and neighs…with no frills or fanfare….Luke 2:7b..”She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.”  He is worthy of our praise and adoration and worship…in it’s simplest form…from our hearts…with arms wide open…not greedily grabbing at earthly riches….but striving for Heavenly treasure that “moth and rust cannot destroy” -Matthew 6:19 Heavenly treasure….NOT shiny wrapped packages. John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life , and have it to the full.” Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12. Christmas lights are beautiful, but we have the brightest light there is…JESUS THE CHRIST!! May you walk in His light forevermore!

We have probably all heard of a sacrificial lamb-“a metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed for the common good.” Well, as parents, we should be sacrificing FOR our little lambs….our children… NOT making them sacrifice for US! When they are in the womb, we sacrifice our bodies for them. Whether you are nursing or bottle-feeding, you are sacrificing your sleep when they are newborns….and even beyond the newborn phase. When they get sick, we have to sacrifice our plans and stay home with them. When WE are sick, we still have to care for them and their needs. Their clothing, food, shelter, medical needs…not to mention their emotional and spiritual needs…or even their education…are our responsibilities! So our needs and our finances are sacrificed so they can have what they need. I can’t imagine for even a minute what it must be like to give up a child for adoption…but THAT is the ultimate sacrifice…the birth parents know that their baby deserves things they cannot provide. Their sacrifice was for the common good of the child…not the parent.

Jesus Christ was our propitiation…atonement or appeasement to God…He sacrificed Himself for the common good of MANKIND! Human or animal sacrifices are no longer necessary because of Jesus! BUT I must sacrifice parts of my life as I am raising my “lambs.” They are only mine for a short time…they are ultimately God’s…but in that time I have them, they need to be taught, shaped, molded, guided and even disciplined…for their good…and the rest of the world’s good, too. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Each week, I have the privilege of being a part of Moms With Swords….a women’s bible study led by Joy Chambley. One of Joy’s sermons was about SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR KIDS…YOU need to be the biggest influence in their lives…not their friends, not their teachers, not their babysitter and not even their grandparents. Hopefully, the people involved in their lives are positive influences, but YOU should be spending the most time with them. Joy said, “TIME is a prerequisite for (perceptive) parenting.” If you aren’t spending time with them how can you perceive what is going on in their hearts…or what is going on in their minds?!

Now, we live in a fallen world with fallen sinful people….” for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…Romans 3:23…but if you don’t enjoy being around your children because of their behaviors or attitudes….CHANGE them…mold them…they are not stone…they are like clay in the Potter’s hands.

Daily Verse-

Isaiah 64:8-“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” 

Daily Prayer-

Oh, Father God, I long to be the clay in your hands and to be shaped into a beautiful masterpiece! Sometimes I resist and don’t want to change, but you chisel away at the imperfections in me and smooth out the rough spots. I am Yours, Lord, and I desire to be my best and I know that that comes from allowing you to have your way with me. Amen.

Community-“mutual participation; the public; a society of persons under the same laws; friendly association/companionship. Living in the same place and having a particular characteristic in common; a feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” Does any of this resonate with you? Do you have “community” or are you feeling like an outsider? Do YOU make people feel like they are part of YOUR community? Or do you have a close-knit group of friends with no room for additions?

Although I do not care for the author of “It Takes a Village”, I DO believe that we need one another and EVERYONE needs a helping hand from time to time! A friend takes my daughter to dance on Mondays because it is on her way home from our home school group; a friend is going through cancer with her daughter so there is a meal schedule set up for them where they know friends/family are bringing dinner on certain nights…they don’t want to worry about cooking dinner at the end of the day when their child is going through chemo and radiation!! My daughter is no longer interested in her American Girl Doll, but a friend of ours would LOVE for HER daughter to have it…why not, right? A neighbor helped us out one time when our dog jumped our fence…I was pregnant, had little kids and my husband was out of town….they tracked down our dog and brought him back home to us-what a blessing! I have been to 4 funerals in the last 6 months….they were either the mom or dad of a friend of mine….there is nothing I can do other than be there as a physical presence and let them know I care! I was trying to pay cash at the grocery store one day recently and I didn’t have the cash I needed….the gentleman behind me handed me a $20 bill….I had never seen him in my life and probably won’t again…HE MADE MY DAY! These are just a few occurrences that I can recall: a car ride, a meal, a doll, tracking down a dog, sitting in a chair/pew, $20….no big deal, right?! EXACTLY!!!

You may be new to the neighborhood, just started a new job, going to a new church, working out at a new gym….wouldn’t you want people to reach out to YOU!? Is your child the new kid in the class? Don’t you want people to embrace them and make them feel included? ‘m guessing the answer is “YES”….we don’t have to be best friends, but let’s be civil…PLEASE. Introvert vs extrovert….quiet vs loud…a natural-born leader or more of a follower….none of that matters….what DOES matter is if you are polite vs rude….friendly vs hostile…welcoming vs rejecting.

The Golden Rule-Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law of the Prophets.”