Spread His Peace

28 12 2012

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  Ephesians 4:2-3

DSC03362Our relationships with one another are precious. Each interaction is an opportunity to build, nurture and create stronger bonds. Careful selection of our words and our actions are an acknowledgement of the love, respect and concern that we have for each other. Our busyness of everyday living may open the door to being too busy for the things that matter most. Extending our love and time with our family members, our loved ones and our sisters and brothers in Christ is essential for creating an atmosphere of peace and unity. Our passage today encourages us to make every effort to maintain unity, using peace as the strong glue that binds us together. Patience, gentleness, forgiveness and love are key ingredients required for our success. We need His peace to reign in our relationships, in our families and our communities. As we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, let us spread His peace in our homes, our neighborhoods and our congregations showing the world that the Savior is born and lives inside of us.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
that was poured over Aaron’s head,
that ran down his beard
and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
even life everlasting. Psalm 133:1-3


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Categories : PEACE, Uncategorized

Stay Together

27 12 2012

You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. Ephesians 4:4-6 Msg.

DSC03719As small children, I can recall the important instructions of adult leaders to “stay together” as we traveled as a group. This was true whether we were on a class field trip or family outing. Parents and teachers would instruct us to move as a unit to assure that no one would be separated from the group. As an adult, these instructions have a more profound meaning, as parents and grandparents continue to stress the importance of keeping the family together.  Staying together allows us to continue to move forward in strength and purpose, within our earthly families and the family of God.

In our passage today, we are instructed to stay together having oneness both inside and out as we serve our Heavenly Father. This unity should permeate our existence, the way we think and the way we approach life. We serve God who is in control of all things.   Being in unity with each other in service to God creates an opportunity for Him to move in powerful ways in our lives, our families and communities.

So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion? Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind. Don’t act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. Philippians 2:1-3


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Categories : GUIDANCE, PURPOSE, Uncategorized

Faithful Father

26 12 2012

Faithful Father

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. Lamentations 3:22-24

IMG_0134My heart is full of praise and thanksgiving for our Faithful Heavenly Father. He is faithful and just to remember His children. I woke up this morning with a reminder of His goodness and mercy toward me. It is a blessing not earned or even deserved but I am thankful for the relationship that grace has brought into my life. Early in my life as a young person with dreams I could not have imagined the blessings of my life today. I am so thankful to God for the blessings and the journey that has brought me thus far. The best part of our walk with Him is that there is yet more ahead. With our trust fully in Him, we walk in guided steps toward our purpose and victory. Be encouraged! God is so faithful to His children and I am thankful.


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Categories : PRAISE, Uncategorized

Full of Hope

26 12 2012

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 NIV

IMG_0131Many years ago, I described a situation as “hopeless” to my Grandfather. It was a term that I thought accurately summed up a set of circumstances that were not going to work out well. Even reflecting on it now, I don’t recall the topic or the situation. It was my Grandfather’s reaction to my carefree use of the word hopeless that has stuck with me. In strong terms, my Grandfather told me that I should never say something is hopeless. In a mournful tone, he said that if you don’t have hope you don’t have anything. It is advice and a truth that has stayed tucked away in my heart and mind, where my hope, faith and love are nurtured and expanded.

As God’s children, we can put our trust in the Lord. Hope or expectation that something will change for the better is a position of faith that all believers should walk in. We serve a God that has provided the ultimate victory for His children. No matter what our situation we can be filled with hope that our God is working things out on our behalf and for our good. We can walk in hope, faith and peace as we put our trust in Him. We pray for God’s hope to fill our hearts today as we look for victorious living and victory to be evident in our lives.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13


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Categories : HOPE, Uncategorized

Light of the World

25 12 2012

In the beginning the Word already existed.  The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.     John 1:1-9

IMG_0128We need His light to shine in darkness, wherever it may be found. Dark decisions, dark emotions, dark behavior – we need His light. We are so thankful that His light can bring brightness and life wherever it exists. We live in a time where darkness is celebrated despite the strife it creates. His light brings peace and true life. We thank God for the power and brightness of His son Jesus Christ. We ask that His light shine in our souls, in our thoughts, in our decisions and our behavior so that we may experience His peace and demonstrate His love to all that we meet.

 Jesus is the Light, Light of the World. Jesus is the Light, Light of the World

Jesus is the Light, Light of the World. He is forever shining in my soul.

Devotional Song


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Categories : JOY, Uncategorized

Spread His Joy

24 12 2012

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy;

at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.    Psalm 16:11

IMG_0109The Word of God provides such a powerful source of instruction, strength and encouragement to our lives. I am so blessed to be able to read its words and the different translations that illuminate the depths and richness of God’s words to us. The word joy appears in the Bible many times. I love that it appears as both a noun and a verb. It is something that we can both experience and do. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” appears in Habakkuk 3:18. It is a conscious word of action to joy or to rejoice in our Heavenly Father who provides us with countless blessings. We can choose to delight ourselves in God’s word, His goodness to us and for who He is in our lives.

We can also experience His joy and spread it others. His joy is a source of strength. It provides healing to our souls and provides renewal when we need it most. It is a blessing that keeps on giving. We can spread His joy with our praises to God, kind words and acts that reflect His love. We want to share with the world even during this Christmas season of the blessing of His Joy.


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Categories : JOY, Uncategorized

Hiking Season

24 12 2012

Show me the right path, O Lord;       point out the road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me,     for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.        Psalm 25:4-5

IMG_0091This season is full of twists and turns, with some sharp bends in the road that I did not see what was around the corner. Our path is a journey that I have likened more to hiking in a mountain forest than a Sunday walk in the park. As believers we are challenged to seek God’s leading and to listen for the guiding of the Holy Spirit, who provides the gentle whispering winds of which way to go. The path is rugged, requiring strong muscles of faith in our legs, in our hearts and minds to continue to move forward. We have to remember to breathe in and out, creating more opportunities for our heart muscle to become stronger. We have to use all of our senses, listening for God in unfamiliar territory and careful to avoid the stench of discouragement. We have to reach out to others who can help us along the way and take every opportunity to encourage each other in the Lord. We may meet strangers along the path creating an open door for others to join the journey. Using our love with His light, they are more apt to walk the path with us. The enemy may desire to sift us like wheat but Jesus has prayed for us that our faith would endure and that we would not give in or give out. Our savior has prayed for us that our Faith would not fail. We are encouraged to stay on the path, even when it is hard, when it is dark and even when we are tired. We can be assured even in uncertainty of the next stretch on the journey, our God promises to be with us every step of the way and that victory is at the end of the road.

“Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I’ve prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start.” Luke 22:31-32


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Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, Uncategorized

An Eternal Christmas Wish

24 12 2012

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.     Ephesians 3:14-21

IMG_0090During this season of celebration of Christmas, we are reminded of the ultimate gift of the savior, His birth, His life and His resurrection. We are so thankful for the precious gift of salvation that is available to each of us. Paul’s prayer represents the high hopes that we have for each other – empowered with inner strength through His spirit, that Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust Him, that we would be deeply rooted in God’s love, that we would understand the expanse of God’s love for us, that we would experience the love of Christ, that we would be made complete in His fullness. And praise God! that this work would continue in us for all generations. It is a powerful, complete wish that we can share with each other. It is my hope and wish for you.


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Categories : HOPE, Uncategorized

Call on the One

13 11 2012

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.   Psalm 116:17

I am so thankful for all the Lord’s blessings to me. He continues to bless my soul and my life with blessings that I could not earn, even if I had tried. The blessing of peace, His love and His concern for me surround my life and I am thankful. I am most thankful for the gift of salvation and the opportunity to walk with the Lord’s leading. With His leading, I know I will find safety, deliverance and peace that are beyond understanding. I am thankful. Jesus is always present and is available to us. We can call on His name for the concerns of our heart, the promise of direction and to manifest the blessing of healing of mind, body and soul. He is the healer and the provider of strength. I am thankful.


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Categories : GUIDANCE, Uncategorized

Reflecting Him

31 10 2012

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.   Colossians 3:15-17

We make so many choices each day. Making consistent decisions that reflect God’s will for our lives is essential for the blessed life that we seek. God is love and He loves us as our Creator and Heavenly Father. Following His lead in showing love toward ourselves and those we encounter is a strong reflection of Him. We must do the inner soul work that allows us to forgive and to open our hearts to His children everywhere.  Some people may feel like sandpaper but it is most likely an opportunity for growth and better understanding.  Seek understanding through the lenses of His love, His peace and His mercy.  We have all needed change at one time or another of a better way of dealing with others.  We may even need an adjustment now.  Our prayer today is that our lives, our decisions and our relationships will reflect Him.  We love the Lord and thank Jesus for this blessing.


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Categories : GUIDANCE, Uncategorized

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