Thursday, December 31, 2009
Last day of 2009!
It's time to ring in the New Year! Goodbye 2009...hello 2010. What do you have in store?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Patient Perseverance
Reflecting on this Christmas Eve. Life. It throws some curveballs at us.
I was listening to my dad read the end of Jude and 1st chapter of Revelation this morning. SO powerful! God's Word is true! He is coming. He was. He is. AND He IS to come! :-D Makes me so excited hearing that! In Revelation 1, John talks about patient endurance. We are called to patiently persevere.
How amazing! Every single one of the rulers/kings/presidents of this world are under God's authority, whether they know it or not. God is in complete control. Nothing is too big or too small for Him. The apostle John was given the incredible opportunity to see things...Heavenly things...things we don't understand, things that are written about in Revelation...and what will happen at the end of days.
He saw Jesus. SAW Him. Here is what John said about it:
When I said first that life throws its curveballs, well...we all know it does. We all deal with our own struggles. But the best thing is that when we believe in Jesus as our Savior, He comes and changes life as we know it. He makes it meaningful. He is Christ the LORD. Emmanuel. God with us.
Patient endurance is rewarded in Heaven. We have eternal life to look forward to. I don't know why this strikes me as such a perfect revelation, if you will, but our family is facing some challenges at the moment, like so many people right now, yet through it all I am beginning to feel God's presence more. He is leading our family. Where, I don't know yet, but with God as my leader, how can I be afraid? There are bumps and mountains along the way...but that's a part of this earthly life's journey, isn't it?
Can't you just imagine what the end of the road looks like? Glorious! Triumphant! Full of MEGA JOY :). I cannot wait to look back and see where God has taken us. I want to continue to walk with Him always...trusting that no matter what happens, no matter what is thrown at us...He is right there by our side.
Through our Savior Jesus Christ, who was in Heaven with God, came to earth as a little baby, was born in a cave, his bed a musty manger, who grew up and showed the world what true love and hope and joy is, who suffered ridicule from those who were the closest to Him, was beaten and nailed to a cross, all so that He, God's perfect and only Son, would die for our sins, conquer death, grab the keys to Hell from Satan himself, and rise from the dead, come back to life, ascend to Heaven, and now He sits in Heaven at the right hand of God! O triumphant joy!
I really love that it's Christmas Eve. It's snowing. Tonight my family unwraps presents and will enjoy giving and being with each other, celebrating Jesus, the babe in the manger.
Thank you, God, for sending your Son to this earth to be born to save us! This is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Because it all started this night, a few thousand years ago...in a little town called Bethlehem...
I was listening to my dad read the end of Jude and 1st chapter of Revelation this morning. SO powerful! God's Word is true! He is coming. He was. He is. AND He IS to come! :-D Makes me so excited hearing that! In Revelation 1, John talks about patient endurance. We are called to patiently persevere.
Revelation 1:9 - "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus."We will encounter suffering, but we are to remain humble and joyful in Christ, knowing He says, as stated in vs. 8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." AND as John says in v.4, Jesus is "...the ruler of the kings of the earth[!!!]"
How amazing! Every single one of the rulers/kings/presidents of this world are under God's authority, whether they know it or not. God is in complete control. Nothing is too big or too small for Him. The apostle John was given the incredible opportunity to see things...Heavenly things...things we don't understand, things that are written about in Revelation...and what will happen at the end of days.
He saw Jesus. SAW Him. Here is what John said about it:
vs. 17 - "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."I want you to understand something. Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades. That means death simply cannot hold us! When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He actually went down into Hell/Hades and wrestled the keys from Satan. Jesus conquered death so that we may have life in Him, and have it abundantly (John 10:10)!
When I said first that life throws its curveballs, well...we all know it does. We all deal with our own struggles. But the best thing is that when we believe in Jesus as our Savior, He comes and changes life as we know it. He makes it meaningful. He is Christ the LORD. Emmanuel. God with us.
Patient endurance is rewarded in Heaven. We have eternal life to look forward to. I don't know why this strikes me as such a perfect revelation, if you will, but our family is facing some challenges at the moment, like so many people right now, yet through it all I am beginning to feel God's presence more. He is leading our family. Where, I don't know yet, but with God as my leader, how can I be afraid? There are bumps and mountains along the way...but that's a part of this earthly life's journey, isn't it?
Can't you just imagine what the end of the road looks like? Glorious! Triumphant! Full of MEGA JOY :). I cannot wait to look back and see where God has taken us. I want to continue to walk with Him always...trusting that no matter what happens, no matter what is thrown at us...He is right there by our side.
Through our Savior Jesus Christ, who was in Heaven with God, came to earth as a little baby, was born in a cave, his bed a musty manger, who grew up and showed the world what true love and hope and joy is, who suffered ridicule from those who were the closest to Him, was beaten and nailed to a cross, all so that He, God's perfect and only Son, would die for our sins, conquer death, grab the keys to Hell from Satan himself, and rise from the dead, come back to life, ascend to Heaven, and now He sits in Heaven at the right hand of God! O triumphant joy!
I really love that it's Christmas Eve. It's snowing. Tonight my family unwraps presents and will enjoy giving and being with each other, celebrating Jesus, the babe in the manger.
Thank you, God, for sending your Son to this earth to be born to save us! This is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Because it all started this night, a few thousand years ago...in a little town called Bethlehem...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Soldier's Christmas Poem
Have you heard this? Amazing. I swear I've been more emotional lately, because I almost started crying this morning on my way to work when I heard it on KTIS (98.5FM). Maybe it's just because I believe our soldiers deserve to be fully supported by every person who calls this country home. Maybe it's because it's the Christmas season and each soldier deserves to be home with his or her family, but instead they are fighting bravely for our freedom and the freedom of others. This poem is well worth the read.
A Soldier's Christmas
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"
"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
Michael Marks
December 7th, 2000
The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
my daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep
in perfect contentment, or so it would seem.
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eye when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
and I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
to the window that danced with a warm fire's light
then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night"
"Its my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red white and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home,
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat,
I can carry the weight of killing another
or lay down my life with my sisters and brothers
who stand at the front against any and all,
to insure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
to know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust.
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
Michael Marks
December 7th, 2000
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
What a terrible joke
So I was watching the Jay Leno show tonight. Not something I usually do but thought it was actually funny for a change...at least up until the part where he joked...JOKED...about selling babies "straight out of the mines of Myanmar." That hit a sore spot. I mean, you don't even go there. That's one of the most heartless things I've ever heard. I was stunned. How can they joke about that? How can that ever be the least bit funny? That breaks my heart. Those kids, those people from Burma, are precious and deserve better than to be at the butt of a joke like that. They deserve to be honored and cared for and protected and fought for...but the sad thing is many people, most people, don't even know where Myanmar (Burma) is. And they don't even care. I sat on my couch and cried tonight. I know for a fact God is fighting for them. Sending His guardian angels to protect them. Bringing them help through people simply willing to give their lives and work nonstop to serve Him and bring the helpless, the hopeless, the persecuted, and the desperate to Him.
I can only pray that God shows the world how precious those babies are to Him. How precious each and every person is to Him. He died for them. How can you show your love more than that?
I can only pray that God shows the world how precious those babies are to Him. How precious each and every person is to Him. He died for them. How can you show your love more than that?
Friday, December 4, 2009
The reason! The only reason!
The reason for the season. Baby Jesus. Born in a manger. In a cave (not a barn like everyone thinks). A dark, dirty cave. The reason He was born? To take away our sins and give us the incredible gift of eternal life. I'm blown away that He would do that for me. DIE for ME. As in really? I don't deserve it! None of us do. Which is what makes it so much more perfect and amazing and AWEsome...He came for us, died for us, conquered death and ROSE from the dead! The whole purpose, so that we won't be doomed to an eternity of pain and suffering in hell, but go with Him and get to be with Him forever in Heaven! This is the meaning of eternal life. Forever. To be with Jesus in Heaven. For eternity.
He is coming. Probably sooner than we think, but not when we expect it. Yet we should be waiting. Anticipating. He's coming and He's taking us with Him. He's going to wipe out all sin. Create a new Heaven and a new Earth.
It all started with one babe. One manger. Jesus' birth. The reason for the season.
1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."Eternity with Jesus. All because He came as a man, born in a lowly manger, grew up ridiculed by those who knew Him the most, to teach and love, to heal the sick and disabled, to bring peace and joy, to suffer and die for you and me. He conquered death. He CONQUERED it. He didn't just rise again and die later. HE IS STILL ALIVE. He is in Heaven awaiting the perfect time to return and take us, those who believe in Him, those who have accepted Jesus into their hearts as Lord and Savior, to take us into Heaven with Him. It's such an amazing gift! I want to tell the world. One step at a time.
He is coming. Probably sooner than we think, but not when we expect it. Yet we should be waiting. Anticipating. He's coming and He's taking us with Him. He's going to wipe out all sin. Create a new Heaven and a new Earth.
Matthew 24: 30-31 - "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
vs. 36 - "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."And we will be with Him. Forever. Eternally living with Him! New bodies. It's going to be beautiful. This is the meaning of eternal life. It's not just something we say. It's the gift, the one gift that God has given to every single person if they just believe in Him!
It all started with one babe. One manger. Jesus' birth. The reason for the season.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Surprises.
God surprised me yesterday. I love how He works. Orchestrating everything perfectly as He sees fit. Wow.
Europe. I have a feeling this trip will be nothing like anything I've experienced and unlike any trip I've been on so far. I've never been to Europe. Didn't expect to go. Don't know if Vietnam/Thailand is still in the picture, since that's been my focus and goal, to go back there since my trip 2 years ago. Guess I'll find out. God has a plan and keeps working things for His glory, that I know.
India. I feel it's on the horizon now, too. With Titus, Britt, Robyn & Caleb there now, and Brad & Matthew joining them for a couple weeks, plus with the RVC India team heading there in Feb...I feel the tug. I feel a tug to reach the world right now. How can I do it all? Go everywhere? My dreams keep expanding. Vaguely. I get a glimpse of God's glory and my eyes and heart keep opening wider. I don't know where He wants me. But I know I want what He wants. I want the world to know His love!
...but it's right now that's reality. I have these dreams. Vague dreams but dreams nonetheless. It starts here.
Europe. I have a feeling this trip will be nothing like anything I've experienced and unlike any trip I've been on so far. I've never been to Europe. Didn't expect to go. Don't know if Vietnam/Thailand is still in the picture, since that's been my focus and goal, to go back there since my trip 2 years ago. Guess I'll find out. God has a plan and keeps working things for His glory, that I know.
India. I feel it's on the horizon now, too. With Titus, Britt, Robyn & Caleb there now, and Brad & Matthew joining them for a couple weeks, plus with the RVC India team heading there in Feb...I feel the tug. I feel a tug to reach the world right now. How can I do it all? Go everywhere? My dreams keep expanding. Vaguely. I get a glimpse of God's glory and my eyes and heart keep opening wider. I don't know where He wants me. But I know I want what He wants. I want the world to know His love!
...but it's right now that's reality. I have these dreams. Vague dreams but dreams nonetheless. It starts here.
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