Tuesday's Unwrapped

We shared a beautiful night of community with our church family on Sunday night.  We started out by carolling and then our pastor and his wife invited us all to their home for games and refreshments.  We had a blast!  As I've thought back on the evening I wondered if that is what the New Testament church in Acts was like.  And that's where I want to pick up this Tuesday unwrapped... 

'All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.'  Acts 2:44-47

They were in essence a community.  And of course, you know me, I looked up the definition of community and this is what I found:

Community:  a unified body of individuals or a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.

Isn't that what we (as well as the Acts church) are as Christians?  A community.  A unified group.  All loving the Lord and looking forward to our heavenly home.  All working together towared the goal of furthering His kingdom for eternity.  I am so thankful for my church community and for others I call part of my community.  I think He meant for us to function together as a whole not as each one doing his/her own thing.  Together we can get something done.  Together we can make change happen in our larger community.  Together we can show others in our community the love of Christ.

Are you thankful for the community that God has placed you in?  Are you involved in it?  If not, step out and make an effort to be a functioning part.  It can make all the difference in your life...and maybe in someone else's also.  Happy Tuesday!

Marvelous Monday

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go....it's almost here!  My kids are so excited!  Thankful that we're keeping the reason for the season at the forefront this year!

On this marvelous Monday I am thankful for the opportunity to take our Sam to the Shriner's Hospital in Greenville, SC.  It almost closed its doors last year due to the economy failing, but I am thankful that people stood up for our children and as of today it's still open.

It is a blessing to us to have a clinic where we can take Sam that has so much experience with Cerebral Palsy.  Although they really just look at him at this point I am glad that it's there for his future needs. 

I am also glad to have my oldest out of school for two weeks.  He'll being going to his Aunt Lana's tomorrow until Friday, but we are glad to share the blessing of him with her as he meant so much in the weeks after Mimi passed away!  He's excited and has a list of all he wants to do...go to the zoo, play with her cat, and eat shrimp!  Too cute!

Hope everyone has a blessed Monday as it leads up to Christmas day.  Remember that Jesus is the greatest gift of all!  Share His love with someone else today through your testimony or your actions!

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  Luke 19:10

Season of Suffering: A glimpse into the journey of Paul (and us)

I've been doing Beth Moore's Paul 90 Days on His Journey of Faith devotional every morning (OK, so almost every morning) and today's was entitled Season of Suffering.  It doesn't sound very enticing or like something that we want to read about, but it is truth.  Paul suffered for Christ more than any one person should be allowed to, but he was glad to fellowship with Christ in his sufferings.  He was beaten, shipwrecked, lost at sea, stoned, hated by Jews and Gentiles alike, hungry, thirsty, cold, alone...and so on.  (2 Corinthians 11: 23-27)

He got it.  Paul grasped what it was to really live for Christ.  He knew what was on this earth was temporal and he was living, striving for his heavenly reward.  He knew that when he got to see his Jesus face to face that every single trial would be worth it.  Just read his writings.  He shows us his heart over and over.  He was a willing servant.  He took what came to him with grace and perseverance.

Don't you want the same to be said of you?  I know I do.  Do I want trials or sufferings?  NO!  I like life to be easy and carefree.  Is it?  Absolutely not!  I can make a list right now of all that is 'wrong' with my life and it would be insignificant compared to many of yours.  But we have been called, as Christians, to live our life in faith and obedience to Him.  If He puts a trial in our life it is for our own good.  To refine us as pure gold is refined by fire.  To draw us closer to Him and let us know that we are 100% dependent on Him and Him alone.

So if you are in the midst of a trial today remember that He is on His throne.  You are His child and He loves you.  Nothing that has come to you that hasn't passed through His hands first.  He is giving you the opportunity to show your faith in Him.  He is allowing you the privilege of seeing Him 'work all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.' (Romans 8:28)

Just rest...'be still and know that I am God.'  (Psalm 46:10)

Unwrapping Christmas Joy

It's Thursday Jam time over at Faith Barista so get your cup of coffee and head over at take a look at the other posts for today!  Today's topic is 'Unwrapping your Jesus discoveries' so far this Christmas season.  I've been keeping my eyes open and my heart tuned in to what Christ is doing all around me this Christmas.  There've been several things I've seen and my heart has been touched by so far, but the one that has taken the cake occurred yesterday afternoon...

I work at an Endoscopy center with four physicians.  They are great to work for and our office collects money and buys them a gift each year to show our appreciation to them.  We've bought things from pen holders of a man on a toilet (we do colonoscopies to) to making them a sports team throw.  But this year we decided to do something different.  We sponsored a little boy's Christmas at the local children's group home, the Calvary Home for Children.  We collected enough money to buy him a Nintendo DS with 3 games and a new outfit, tennis shoes, and a stocking filled with goodies.

This is what the Christmas spirit is all about.  People coming together and pooling their resources to make a difference in a child's life.  This boy was taken away from his parents due to a very bad home situation.  He was taken from school and arrived at the group home with only his backpack.  God pieced the timing of the events together so that we would have the opportunity to put joy in this little boy's heart this Christmas.  Our doctor's didn't need a thing that we could give them, but the irreplaceable joy that will be this child's on Christmas morning is priceless.

This is what Christ wants from His followers at Christmas (and any time).  He wants us to be His hands and feet.  His desire is for us to bless others with our resources and to be a light for Him to this generation.  Because someone else sacrificed a meal out for lunch one day a child will experience Christmas joy this year.  He'll know that someone cares about him.  It may even open his heart to Jesus and how much He cares for him. 

So look around you this season.  Who could benefit from a small sacrifice on your part?  Who could you share a little Christmas joy with?

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:40

Wordless Wednesday

Today is the day that my post about Sam is running over at Incourage so hop over and take a peek!

Our Sam...



Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.  Psalm 127:3

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

Tuesday's Unwrapped

Incourage is having their December devotional carnival today so pop over and take a look.  Don't forget to take a peek at my devotional that will be posted there tomorrow under Daily Guests!

What is the best gift you've EVER gotten on Christmas?  I can't think of just one that really stands out.  I've racked my brain, but I just can't put my finger on the 'best' one.  Some people can name it off without even thinking about it.  Not me.  Was I just spoiled?  Probably.  I like to think it's the fact that I can't seem to remember anything.

After giving this question some thought I realized that the best gift was the same for everyone--Jesus!  His birth was the greatest gift this world has ever seen.  Most don't realize it and won't until it's too late, but for those of us who DO know it--WOW!  How humbling a thought that the God of this universe would take on the form of man in order to die on the cross some 30 years later for the sin of all humanity.  What a gift.  No gift can beat that. 

The question we need to ask ourselves is what do we do with this gift?  Do we keep it wrapped up and hidden in our hearts just for ourself?  Or do we open it up and share it with everyone we can?  I think the latter.  Don't keep Him hidden.  Let your life be a testament of the gift you've been given.  I mean, really, it's eternal life!  Forever in His presence.  It's salvation from not only the darkness in this world, but also of self.

So unwrap a little Jesus today and share it with those around you.  Don't keep the best gift of all hidden away.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  John 10:28

Marvelous Monday

Ah, Monday...again!  The days just seem to fly by!  I guess the saying that time goes faster the older you get is true because my 6 year old thinks that Christmas is taking FOREVER to get here.  It seems like we were just at the beach a few days ago...and that was 6 months ago.

That brings me to our Marvelous Monday topic...time.  He established time.  He gives us time every day that we are alive here on this earth.  But for what?  To spend it chasing after temporal things?  To build up our wealth and success?  To spend time with our family and friends?  For most of us that is what we are spending our time doing. Seeing what we can gain for ourselves.

But is that how He wants us to spend the gift of time He's given to us?  I don't think so!  We were created for a relationship with Him.  We were created to glorify Him.  A relationship takes time and work.  We have to be in the Word and talk with our Father daily to have a relationship with Him.  To glorify Him we have to know Him.  We can't do that if we're running around like chickens trying to gain earthly pleasures for ourselves.

On this Monday that He has given to us may we be ever mindful of what our purpose is here:  To glorify Him and to have a relationship with Him.  Let's make an effort to spend our time wisely getting to know our Savior and what He would have us to be doing for Him.

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."  Matthew 6:19-20  

Don't forget I'll be a Daily Guest over at Incourage on Wed. December 15!!