THINKIN' 'INSIDE THE BOX'

Nowadays, the common phrase is, "THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX"- YET, as I sit in our warm, lovingly Christmas decorated living room, I see all the newly wrapped gifts around our tree. This makes me wonder.. Would anyone EVER NOT open one that has their name on it? If they did refuse to do so, could it possibly be they feared it would be empty, thus they'd be extremely hurt, disappointed, and/or humiliated? IF 'human nature' is as strong as I know it to be, we can rest assured most anyone would 'shelve' those fears so they could get to what is intended for them...
SO, WHAT IS the REASON FOR SO MANY OF US HUMAN BEINGS NOT being willing to open THE ULTIMATE GIFT who is THE REASON for the SEASON? I'm thinking, "What happens if I pray to invite the Lord into my life, and He's NOT REALLY THERE?" may be a primary cause.. Even more than pride, I am convinced that fear of possible disappointment if God is not truly 'there,' and willing become involved with me personally, keeps many from even opening their present of eternal life and the true PEACE, HOPE, AND JOY contained within a relationship to the LORD. Thus, my message to any who read this is simply, GOD IS THERE and HE IS FOR YOU TO KNOW PERSONALLY- PLEASE, DO open your heart and soul to HIM since HE took human form over 2,000 years ago, then sacrificed his life so the wages of your sin are paid, thus reconciling you to HIM forever!
LAY aside the lie of PRIDE which says, "I can do it myself!" Truth is, you can't provide eternal security for yourself or provide the relief found only through the mercy and grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.. HE IS SO WONDROUSLY FAITHFUL-- Let HIM show you just how much!!! HE TREASURES you and DESIRES your fellowship with HIM directly... 'Blessed wishes' to all who read this!

OUR PRESENTS or HIS PRESENCE?

SIMPLY PUT, MY THOUGHTS TODAY ARE ASKING WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT? The title says it all.... MY SOUL YEARNS FOR MORE OF THE LORD'S PRESENCE TO BE RESPONDED TO BY ME... HE'S TRULY, ALWAYS HERE WITH, AND IN, ME.. SOMEHOW, THE gifts under the tree have lost most all of their appeal.... (except for the joy of allowing others the pleasure of giving... Hey! That's like our Lord's joy in giving!!)
Basically though, the gifts I pray for anyone reading this are TRUE PEACE, HOPE, and JOY resulting from receiving the LORD'S mercy, grace, and righteousness-- only possible through THE ULTIMATE GIFT! This, of course, is the arrival of the LORD of ALL in human form, followed by the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE of HIS life so we could receive full and true LIFE!!! JESUS did say, 'I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!' I trust YOU will all rejoice in the PRESENCE of our LORD this year and forever!!

ETERNAL LIFE BEGINS ON EARTH!

AS I SIT HERE EARLY THIS MORNING, MY SOUL CRIES OUT TO HELP ANY WHO MAY READ THIS REALIZE HOW TRUE LIFE IS MEANT TO BE EXPERIENCED DAILY WHILE WE ARE STILL ON EARTH, AS WELL AS AFTER OUR BODIES EXPIRE... JESUS CAME TO GIVE 'LIFE ABUNDANT,' AND TOLD US HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE! ANYONE WHO CHOOSES TO FOLLOW HIM, YIELDING THEIR WELFARE TO HIS CARE, WILL NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE TRUE PEACE, HOPE, JOY, PURPOSE , AND SO MUCH MORE, FOR HE IS FAITHFUL IN HIS MERCY, GRACE, AND FORGIVENESS. HE DESIRES TRUE COMMUNION AND FELLOWSHIP WITH US SO HE LIVES WITHIN THOSE WHO WILL WELCOME HIM INTO THEIR HEARTS (SOULS- minds, emotions, and wills).... HAVE YOU DONE SO? IF NOT, WHY NOT? ETERNAL LIFE (the security of knowing you can/do live in a right relationship to the LORD ALMIGHTY) is for you NOW and FOREVER! JUST PRAY, 'THANK YOU JESUS FOR DYING FOR MY SINS SO I CAN BE RECONCILED TO YOU, MY LORD, AND LEARN TO GROW IN YOUR LOVE and LIFE, FOR AND THROUGH ME! I WELCOME YOU NOW! IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN! BY THE WAY, passages from the Gospel of JOHN, chapters 8 and 10 are referred to in this message... Truths from several other scriptures are also here... If you'd like to, read the Gospel of JOHN, especially the mentioned chapters along with chapter 3! Let the Word of God speak more directly to you!

I WONDERED, 'JUST WHAT IS A MUMMER?'

As I found myself with some time I COULD use to write a new post, I noticed something which distracted me.... Seeing the term, Mummer, I realized I didn't quite know what it meant! I guess since I lived all of my childhood and early adult years in southern California, my affections on New Year's Day go to the Rose Parade.. My husband's birth in Philadelphia left NO attachment to the Mummer's culture whatsoever! Well, for those like me who don't know, Mummers are members of clubs in the Philadelphia area who spend all their year preparing for a lavish parade... They devote themselves to 'eating, drinking, and sleeping' this Mummer culture. It seems many individuals derive their purpose for/satisfaction in life from their identities being based on being a member of a Mummer organization.. (There is much more than 'just the parade' to focus on when one is a member.) Well, none of this surprises me because we all know we need to have a purpose for living...(or, as a co-producer of the movie, AMAZING GRACE said, 'a purpose in life that is worth dying for.') My reaction to a Mummer's passion for their involvement is, "That's nice but, then again, it could be a 'Bummer' to be a Mummer since you can't 'take it with you' when your body expires."
Now, just WHAT can we live, and even die for, that can be taken 'with us' when we no longer exist on Earth? As a Christian author of this blog, I get to introduce you to the promise of purpose through an eternal relationship to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY who desires to call you "Friend." Living in a personal, deepening companionship with my Lord, gives me plenty of purpose as I grow in my desire to please and delight in HIM! (This is all made possible by the shed blood of my LORD JESUS CHRIST who loved me enough to take my sins, and the resulting alienation from my LORD upon himself at Calvary, so I CAN have this individual access to the LORD all the time!) I am reminded of a statement of beliefs of a certain 'flavor' of Christianity, which states, 'THE CHIEF PURPOSE OF MANKIND IS TO GLORIFY AND TO ENJOY THE LORD GOD.' Take note of "Friend" in this message... Can you begin to 'wrap your mind around the fact that the ALMIGHTY ONE wants YOU to know HIM as a FRIEND? - THE ULTIMATE FRIEND, if you ask me! He created us with his hands, then breathed his breath into us.. (We were not just spoken into being as all else was!) The giving of his breath was the establishment of mankind as spiritual beings who are intended for communion and fellowship with HIM! Well, I could go 'on and on,' waxing eloquently as my husband has infected me with the ability to do, but I'll close with this thought.... Can you imagine what your life is meant to be like as one who delights in ENJOYING GOD, and subsequently, GLORIFIES HIM? Some of you 'out there' already KNOW that it's not a matter of simply imagining, but can be reality for us! Dear reader, if you don't enjoy God, call 1-888-NEED HIM so someone can share more with you... Blessings from above are headed your way!