WHAT A WAY TO END THIS YEAR!

Deciding on today's title was very perplexing for me.. Other contenders were, "Just Gotta Tell You 'bout..," and "Mr. Right." The idea for these comes from a sweatshirt I saw on a 'tween' age gal recently. It said  I've met Mr. Right-- His name is JESUS" 

So, why the chosen title? It's because it dawned on me there is NO better way to end this calendar year than to be reminded of the thrill of having personal access to my (our!), 'MR. RIGHT!'   By no means do I intend to discredit earthly husbands or other receivers of our devotion, but I do desire to acknowledge how they can NEVER meet every one of our needs sufficiently. They are human so it's no shame if they can't! Only our LORD can 'be there' at all times, in all ways, for all our needs!
Related to this, several years ago, I found myself recording, "Lord! You are making our story a love story...For this I exclaim, 'To You be the glory!  I am the bride..You are the groom! As I walk by your side, I know there'll always be room!' Then, HE began addressing me(us!) as his bride.. "Dear one, there's nothing you and I can't do. I am committed to love, honor and cherish you forever.. You'll never find yourself saying a perplexed, 'WHATEVER.'
He followed with much more, but I'll close for now by reiterating the joy of ending my year as one who lives in the wonder of being loved, honored and cherished by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! No ONE can even come close to caring for me as faithfully and sufficiently as HE can and does!

One MORE Gift!

It is highly likely most of you who will read this received 'more than enough' gifts on/near Christmas Day. So, I get to write about one that can't be wrapped and put under a tree! Those of us who know the LORD realize HE gives gifts of love, mercy, grace, peace, hope, and joy along with many others on a steady basis. Have you ever considered adding DIGNITY to that list of 'others?' As I scanned the last post I sent, I was reminded of Gracie's need for it.. Tomorrow, I will lead a Bible study for residents of an assisted living facility. It will be about how Jesus dignifies us!

I am using PSALMS 8 and 103 to identify reasons for our dignity so they can delight in being all HE intends them to be... Dignified individuals! May our Lord Jesus Christ increase your dignity receptors as you read these passages.

Psalm 8:3-5  When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satifies your desires with good things so that your youth may be renewed like the eagle's. (YES!)

I don't know about you, but I like to think of myself as a princess since, as the daughter (and friend!) of the KING OF KINGS,  I am crowned with glory, honor, love, and compassion! I thank the Lord HE makes it possible for  me to  receive this gift of DIGNITY.

Come On, Ring That Bell

Yesterday, I stood with 95 year old GRACIE whom I was 'parking' back in her nursing home room in her wheelchair. We'd just finished singing hymns and Christmas songs together with others down the hall. Somehow, I could tell I needed to stay with her a little while longer. (I'd been told she'd been a little cranky earlier- very unusual for her.) At that moment, I realized I was wearing a medium/small sleigh bell attached to the necklace chain I wear a cross on. I definitely knew I was meant to give that bell to this dear lady. As I freed it, she asked what I was doing. I said I was going to give her the bell. To my utter surprise, she basically broke down bawling.. deep, deep sobs and lots of tears. I couldn't leave her for more than 5 more minutes. Why the tears? In her words, "You are giving this to me? Someone really cares if I live or die.. I feel so lonely all of the time.., etc." I assured her that her daughters do come see her because I've met them throughout the 7 years I've known Gracie. My heart just about broke though as I hugged her during these emotionally cathartic moments. Actually, I counted myself blessed to be the one who got to be there for her. It made me wonder just how many times we are feeling deprived of something we think we need when, in truth, our Lord Jesus IS there (here) for us at ALL times! His deepest desire is to be the ONE who shares all of those special moments with us. HE is the one who can/does 'ring my bell!' That particular bell I gave to Gracie, had been given to me yesterday with a note attached which said, "Ring the bell of joy." (referring to this Christmas season)  Of course, I always emphasize how true JOY (as well as true PEACE and HOPE) can ONLY come from our LORD JESUS CHRIST as He is welcome to dwell within our beings! So, dear readers.. "Come on, ring those bells!-- Light the Christmas tree.. Jesus IS the KING, born for you and me!"(opening line of a favorite Christmas song of mine..) It's our JOY to share HIM with all those around us as well as with ourselves! The Joy of the LORD is my strength!

TUNE IN, or.....

When I was in 9th grade, I came across a sort of  1960ish, sort of psychedelic book of poems intended for teens to read. The title was simply, TUNE IN. It had brightly, metalic colored pages which were narrow at first, but got wider with each page. Needless to say, it caught my attention and I am certainly glad it did. For, you see, there was one poem in particular (the only one I recall) that has stayed with me for over 40 years. Entitled, THE WELL, it directed readers to the only way to satisfy true thirst. This is by drawing from the depths of God's love, mercy, compassion, grace and SO MUCH MORE, as we rest assured He meets our every need. The final line profoundly stated, "And help me, O God, to admit how thirsty I really am!" Talk about something that impacted me! It was another year before I began to understand that my 'religious beliefs' could make a '12 inch trip' from my mind down into my 'heart' (my soul, which includes my mind, emotions, and will). Once I was led into this personal access, intimate relationship to my Lord, I was delighted to admit how thirsty I was (still am today since like physical thirst, I need to drink frequently.)

NOW- onto why I chose this title for today-- I have realized just how many of us sort of forget to 'tune in' to the wonderful TRUTH and REALITY of God's presence within us! HE'S the creator of ALL things! I'm talking about THE LORD GOD Himself indwelling us. I am so aware of how often I frankly 'tune Him OUT!' UGH! What deprivation I accept by doing this.. So, as I close, please pray HE will remind you often of this glorious, wondrous TRUTH of his intimate relationship with/to you. 'Now 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) True PEACE, HOPE and JOY are some of the most wonderful GIFTS we can receive.. GRACE, MERCY, LOVE and RIGHTEOUSNESS in Him, are some others! 

   Have a blessed Christmas and a wonder-filled new year as you TUNE IN to His presence within if you have received Him into your life by accepting the way made possible for you to fellowship with him. Praise God for his compassion that allowed his Son, the Lord Jesus, to become the sacrifice needed for our sins .. He said, IT IS FINISHED.. All we need to do is accept gratefully, this GRACE beyond measure!

LION'S DEN, or FIERY FURNACE?

The fact that it's been nearly a full month since my last post might hint of a very complex/challenging past few weeks. My choice of title today also can be a clue! I'll just state it this way: "I am so grateful for out Lord's insistence upon directing my attention solely to his all-sufficiency, faithfulness, protection, compassion, mercy, and SO MUCH MORE! I have never been so impressed and refreshed by those 2 accounts of how God's faithful ones were miraculously spared destruction from flames and hungry lions. His presence was actually observed by Nebuchadnezzar as he gazed into the furnace and saw 4 unbound men walking around! The three men had been bound before they 'fell' into the furnace! I am so grateful HE doesn't mind being with us when 'through fiery trials, our pathways shall lie.. His grace all-sufficient, being our supply!'

  Moving on, I want to introduce the topic of the PREEMINENCE of CHRIST.. Not, the prominence of Him, but the preeminence! In the above stated examples of His presence, we do see his GREATNESS, EXCELLENCE, SUPREMACY,  SUPERIORITY, AND PERFECTION.  No matter the circumstances we may find ourselves in, we get to (must?!) TRUST only in His presence within and with us to enable the living of our earthbound lives solely to his glory! (SOLI DEO GLORIA!) Daily ask yourself if you are focused totally upon his ALL-SUFFICIENCY to display his PREEMINENCE in/through you! I will join you!  More to come....