Jesus

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What do you fear?


What Do You FEAR?

What do you FEAR?

Face it … we all have FEARS! However, we do not come here with fear … we learn it from others and/or events.

My daughters were 10 and 14 when my brother’s plane crashed.  We all were gripped by fear of flying from that day.  Mine was debilitating to the point of being tranquilized so I could fly (a funny story for another day).  There came a point where I had to face my fear or not see my daughters.  Fear is an evil spirit you can vanquish.  My mother always said, “God is in control, on the throne, loves you and cares for you, is all-knowing … NOTHING surprises Him.”  Kinda sounds like what the Bible says doesn’t it?  Then why do we live in fear?  Why do we allow fear to cripple us?  Why do we teach our children our fear?

I will not say it is easy to get on a plane.  I had to send my oldest daughter and precious granddaughters on a plane Friday.  She has the memories of her uncle’s crash and she does not like to fly, but she does.  She always asks me to pray.  I then had to put my husband on a plane to an interview.  He needs the job … he had to fly.  I cannot and will not let satan* rob me of God’s blessings because of a spirit of fear.  I will not allow satan* to rob me of His joy in my life because of the fear of the unknown … jobless, foreclosure, what is going to happen next?

Fear is what YOU LET IT BE!  What fears are you facing today?  Do not allow satan* to lie to you?  Does he tell you that you are alone? You are NEVER alone, you have the Holy Spirit … YOU HAVE THE VICTORY!  Will your walk today be victorious or will you pass on a new set of fears to your children and those around you?  God is in control – always has been, always will be! Are you walking like He is in control of your life today or are you walking in FEAR?

Isaiah 41:10:
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” HCSB

Romans 8:15:
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ESV

1 Corinthians 2:12:
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” ESV

*satan – I know people capitalize the “S” but, I don’t.  I refuse to give him any status of importance.  He’s a snake, so satan, devil, etc. are lower case, as he is one.
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Footprints… Actions, Attitudes and Appearances


What image are leaving behind?

We have all seen signs at nature preserves and parks that read, “take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints”.   Would it not be wonderful if we took that mentality with us everywhere as Christians?  What ‘footprints’ do you leave each day as you hurry here and there, grumble through work or take your kids on their appointed rounds?  Who do people see as you leave?  Is it Christ?

Examples:

1) The mother that allows children to run wild in stores, destroying displays, products and endangering other shoppers by tripping them  –  Do people assume she is a Christian?

2) The road rage of cutting someone off, not allowing them in, blaring the horn or visible mouthing and hand signals – Do you think the ‘fish’ on the back of the car will send the message you are not?

3) The parent yelling, or worse ignoring their child in the store  – Do those around you see “Christ” in you?

4) The neighbor that has total disregard for others property through theirs or their children’s actions – Are your neighbors seeking Christ because of your family’s example?

5) The patron leaves a ‘tract tip’ in place of a monetary tip or along side a minimal tip – Are you portraying Christ as stingy?

6) The way you dress or dress your children for Church – Do people think you are leaving for the beach or the mall?  Are you dressed showing that you ARE blessed or do you spend more time getting ready for work, shopping, ‘dates’ and other events?  Do you present God with your best?  Not your most expensive, but you and your children are the cleanest, neatest and at your best  for church over all other places (and that includes on the inside).

We leave ‘footprints’ everywhere we go.  Sometimes we are the ONLY “Christ” people see.  Our attitudes, actions and appearance, as well as those of our children, are the footprints we leave behind.  What ‘photo image’ are they taking that will forever be emblazoned in their photo album of Christians?   Will people be glad to see you go?  Or wish you had stayed?

Ephesians 5:2

2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,  a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

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“A Baby Changes Everything”


A Baby Changes EVERYTHING

Faith Hill sings the song “A Baby Changes Everything*”, the story of Jesus’ who came to Earth and changed the world.   If you have not seen the video or heard the song, click on the title above.

I have just returned from Montana.  God has perfect timing in our lives.  I am in retail and could only get away for a few days.  My youngest daughter was due to give birth Christmas Eve.  However, as I landed on the 10th she was already in the hospital in labor.  I was able to be there for the birth of her first child and our first grandson.  I was able to be there for my oldest at the birth of her oldest daughter, our first grandchild.  God knew my grandmother’s heart and has allowed me to be at the hospital for my daughters.

I often say that God provides minuscule pictures on earth of the ‘big picture’.  Both of my daughters lives have been changed forever by the birth of their children, as mine was with each of their births.  Nothing is the same, everything is different.  Circumstances, challenges, life … day by day a mother handles what is handed her.  What a difference a child makes.

As we come together to celebrate Christmas, let us not forget that a Baby changed everything.  Circumstances, challenges, life … day by day each of us handle what is handed to us … either WITH or withOUT the difference the CHILD of God made when He came to earth as a new-born child, to a mother who had no mother to be there for her.  What a sacrifice He made in leaving Heaven to come to a stable.  What a difference He made.

We often get frazzled by the season’s hustle and bustle, plans, and traveling.  Let us not forget that Jesus is the Reason for the Season and YOU may be the only witness that person sees that “A Baby Changes Everything”.

Will He make a difference in your CHRISTmas celebrations this year?

Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS! ~ Renee’

*A Baby Changes Everything Warner-tamerlane Publishing Corp

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The TRUTH; the Whole Truth …


… and nothing but

The Whole Truth

the truth, so help you God.  What is a lie?  It is the opposite of the truth.  Webster defines a lie as anything other than the truth.  It is like walking into a dark room and turning on the light.  Light and dark are exact opposites.

Teaching children about telling the truth is easy when you are only using words.  But, we know that kids watch all our actions and learn far more from our actions then our words.  Your children, your family, your friends, are watching you for the truth.  When you do not speak the truth, when you are silent and keep the truth from being known, you are lying.   Silence is not always golden, sometimes it is a lie.  It is withholding the truth.

I have already blogged about keeping Christ in Christmas, but I would like to take the next step and challenge you to not be silent.  Tell the truth.  Speak up and let your children see you taking a stand for the truth.  Exercise your ‘voice’ and make a difference.  Greet people with Merry Christmas.  Be ACTIVE and write companies that are leaving Christmas out of the holidays.  Oreo’s Christmas cookie is now a ‘winter’ cookie.  Starbucks put the Christmas Blend back on the market after complaints.  Have you found any CHRISTMAS paper and bags or is all you see ‘holiday’ wrappings.  No stars, no Bethlehem, wise men, or angels on wrapping this year.  You can find all kinds of cartoon paper though.

Stand up, use your voice.  Teach your children that silence is not always golden.  INaction IS an action!

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CHRISTmas is coming …


 

Celebrate His Birth!

Sometime in October the Christmas  merchandise started arriving at our store.  The tree was pulled out from storage for display, the signage set and before you knew it November rolled in and so did Christmas.  Working in a Christian store at Christmas is a plus.  Christ is in CHRISTmas in our store, unlike the Mall.

 

I love to get my exercise by walking the mall and try to go there to walk when I can.  CHRIST is not in CHRISTmas at the mall.    I saw the tired and grumpy, the tired parents tugging along even more tired children (or worse, totally ignoring them).   I would like to have a ‘freeze’ button where I could freeze scenes and make people stand back and look at themselves.

As Christians we are the Light in the world.  At CHRISTmas time we should remind all we come into contact with that the Reason for the Season is CHRIST.  I remember writing Starbucks when they came out with their Holiday Blend Coffee and Target and WalMart over the Salvation Army ringers not being allowed, and their associates being instructed not to say Merry CHRISTmas.  We’ll see what happens this year.   I did see CHRISTmas Blend back in the window this year at Starbucks.

As I continued to walk the mall I saw many sad sights.  I love CHRISTmas paper, but Hallmark had no CHRISTmas paper.  It was all holiday wrap, festive and bright but, missing the true Light.  No nativity paper, no Rejoice the Lord is Come, not even any Angel paper.  Being the stinker I can be, I asked the Hallmark clerk where her CHRISTmas paper was.  She pointed to the holiday paper and I said, “no, that’s not CHRISTmas paper. It’s holiday paper.  I want paper that is about the true gift.”  You see someone challenged me to make a difference every chance I could during the holidays and I decided I am.  I may be politically incorrect, but, I figure the louder they are, the louder I will be.  Let’s shout to the world that CHRISTmas is coming.  We already started the CHRISTmas season and I have at least six weeks to use CHRISTmas as an open door.   I have decided I am going to say Merry CHRISTmas to everyone; I am going to thank every person that says Merry CHIRSTmas to me.  I am not buying anything that says Holiday instead of CHRISTmas.   I am not buying into the Xmas slogans that subtly take out CHRIST from CHRISTmas.  (That was the a  ploy of marketing people several years back.)  I am going to make a conscious effort to keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas as I move about my day-to-day activities.  I am going to smile and enjoy the season that celebrates  my Lord and Savior’s birth.   I will ask children I meet if they know whose birthday it is that we are celebrating.

And then on December the 26th, I am going to start celebrating CHRISTmas everyday and recognize that CHRIST sacrificed His place in Heaven to come here on earth and sacrifice His life so that I might have life in Heaven.

So here I go … Merry CHRISTmas!  Let the reason for the season be known and make sure your children and grandchildren know as well.