My Heart Is Fixed. . .

We have Christmas lights in the bushes and trees in our front yard.  I loved seeing them all shining brightly at night.  It just made my heart sing!  A few days ago we had a rain storm and now none of the lights are working.  We have made several unsuccessful attempts to find out what is causing the problem.  Without their glow, it now makes my heart sad!  

                                                                Psalm 57:7
                          My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed;  
                                        I will sing and give thanks.

This Christmas season we may be facing some storms in our lives, causing the light in our hearts not to glow.  Our hearts may need to be fixed!  When our lights aren't shining, it causes others to be sad as well.  Fix your heart on God and this will make your heart sing and give Him thanks for His Son, Jesus Christ who was born on Christmas Day, bringing to us the most wonderful gift of salvation!  

                                                                Morning Prayer
Dear God,
    This Christmas Season, my heart will be fixed on You!  My heart will sing and give thanks to You!   Amen ~ 

"Happy, Kind & Content" . . .

At the Christmas party Saturday night we all listened intently to Dallas, as she shared her memories of her recent trip to India.  It was simply amazing to hear the severe circumstances that many are living under.  She spoke of families making their homes on a cement slab with no belongings and no walls for protection or privacy.  Clean water is non-existent and food is very scarce.  Even more amazing were her words to describe these precious people as, "Happy, Kind and Content".  

                                                                          1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness with contentment is great gain; For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  

Gain does not bring us happiness. . .  because enough will never be enough and it will never satisfy our soul.  Godliness and contentment are the riches we are to pursue.  My desire is to be like those precious people.  I want to be "Happy, Kind and Content". 

                                                                            Morning Prayer
Dear God,
    Forgive me for my discontentment, when You have blessed me with more than food and raiment.  I live in such abundance and my eyes often do not see all that You have provided for me.  Stir my heart to give You thanks for everything.  Amen ~ 

       

Constant State of Celebration!

As a child I remember counting down the days until Christmas.  I loved the holiday festivities with the Christmas Choir performance at school and the exchange of gifts at the school party.  I got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him my heart's desires.  I also remember how I so enjoyed all the lights on our Christmas tree!  My heart was in a constant state of celebration as I counted down the days until Santa came!     

                                                                          Psalm 90:12
              Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

During this Christmas Season, I am counting each day and I am gaining a heart of wisdom to know and understand how precious each day truly is.  I am enjoying all the festivities and my granddaughter's Christmas Choir performances.  I no longer sit on Santa's lap, but I sit at the feet of Jesus and tell Him my heart's desires.  I now understand  how quickly time passes and I want to cherish each moment.  I want to have a child like heart that is in a constant state of celebration, as I count down the days until Jesus comes!  

                                                                           Morning Prayer
Dear Jesus,
     I'm counting the days now, until I see you face to face!  That will truly be the most glorious celebration ever!  Amen ~ 

"How Can I Not Trust God?"

For many years I carried in my heart the question, "How can I trust God?"  I had a list in my mind of so many hurtful experiences in my past.  The longings in my heart to be loved and accepted never seemed to be satisfied.  I always had a sense of being less than what I should be.  The more I seemed to climb out of my pit, the deeper I seemed to go down.  So much of my life was out of control and those things I could control, I would simply fail.  "How can I trust God?" when nothing seems right?"

                                                                 Ephesians 1:17-19

Paul prayed, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."

Today I still carry in my heart a question, "How can I not trust God?"  I have a list in my mind of so many hurtful experiences in my past that He has brought me through.  The longings in my heart to be loved and accepted have fully been met in the wisdom and revelations of God's love for me.  I am growing in my understanding of the hope of His calling upon my life.  I now can see the hand of God reaching down for me to pull me up when I fall down.  The eyes of my understanding have been enlightened and I now can see the riches of His glory passed on to me through Christ Jesus.  "How can I not trust God?"

                                                                       Morning Prayer
Dear God,
   I pray that each of our hearts would carry the question, "How can I not trust God?"  May each day the eyes of our hearts be enlightened, as we grow in wisdom, revelation and knowledge of You.  Amen ~ 

Keeping His Words . . .

In our search for Christmas decorations in the garage, we came across a very heavy box.  I asked my husband to check out the contents and was amazed to find it filled with my old journals.  My heart leaped as I fondly browsed through the decorated books that contained the words that I had written many years ago to God.  I know in my heart that because my family loves me, they will not casually discard these journals when I am no longer with them. 

                                                                      John 14:23
Jesus answered, and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

I know that each of us have at least one copy of the Bible, which is God's journal of His Words.  How can we possibly be casual about this wonderful treasure?  Wow!  Jesus is saying here that in reading His words and keeping them tucked in our hearts, He and His Heavenly Father will come into our hearts and make it their home!  Sometimes I have a hard time wrapping that around my brain!  It's simply amazing that He lives inside of us and that His very Words have been written for us to live on!  I will always treasure my Bibles, because I love Him.  And I know my children and grandchildren will always treasure my journals, because they love me.

                                                               Morning Prayer
Dear Jesus,
    May each day I continue to keep Your Words in my heart, simply because I love You!
Amen ~   

My Closet . . .

I have been blessed with a large master walk-in closet.  The two sliding doors entering the closet, are full length mirrors.  I have more than enough poles on both sides for hanging garments and consequently, I have more clothes than I really need and should give many away.  I have an ironing board set up for removing wrinkles however, I get lazy and avoid wearing garments that need to be pressed.  The end wall has ceiling to floor shelving, which holds boxes with contents that I have no memory.  When visitors come,  I am quick to close my closet doors, because it's a mess and desperately needs my attention. 

                                                                    Matthew 6:5
                                                      (Jesus speaking to his disciples)

When you pray enter into your closet and shut the door, pray to your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret shall reward you openly.

Before I enter my prayer closet, I need to spend time reading God's Word.  It's like looking into a mirror so that I can see my true reflection as the Holy Spirit convicts my heart to truly reflect the image of  Jesus.  As I enter in by faith, I will choose the garments of salvation that God has purchased for me to wear.  I will pray and ask God to reveal to me any spots or wrinkles that I need His forgiveness.  I will not only be concerned about my own needs, but prayerfully ask God to show me what I have that I can give to others.  I will pray and ask God to show me those things in my life that have no eternal value and discard them.  When Jesus comes, I don't want to be quick to close my prayer closet door because it's a mess and I regret never giving it any attention. 

                                                                    Morning Prayer
Dear Lord,
    May a day never be that I don't enter my prayer closet to be with You.  Amen ~

What Do You Want For Christmas?

During the holidays we are frequently asked, "What do you want for Christmas?"  Our list can be endless, sending our loved ones out on a wild goose chase, in effort to grant our every wish.  Have you ever noticed that upon receiving those treasures we seek and desire, there is still something missing? 

It's not what we need, it's who we need for Christmas?  We all need Jesus Christ.  We need more of Him everyday in our lives!  Isn't it ironic that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas, the gift of Love from God and yet we seek after every other thing under the sun, except the Son?  There is nothing that we could ask and receive on Christmas morning that would change our lives now and forever, than to open our hearts and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  Only Jesus Christ can make us whole and fill our empty souls.  Only through the Son, will we truly find life and the purpose for our lives.  

For those of us who have Jesus in our hearts. . . when probed with the question, "What do you want for Christmas?" our heart's response will be, "Thank you, I already have everything I need. . . I have Jesus!"
                                                                    
                                                                    Philippians 4:10
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

                                                                     Ephesians 1:7
In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

                                                                     Morning Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
      Thank you that the most wonderful gift that any of us could open for Christmas is the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ!  May we open our hearts to Him more and more each day to receive the fullness of His joy!  Amen ~

Unwrapping the Gifts. . .

I was nine years old and so excited about Christmas!  Days before the tree was  decorated and presents were already under the tree.  It was very clear to me which ones had my name.  I was so tempted to touch the packages and feel them, but I knew I would get into big trouble!  However, no one said I couldn't stare them down?  So I spent a lot of time sitting in a chair closest to the tree,  studying those presents intently until I was able to identify the contents of each one.  Christmas morning proved that I was right on!  I remember receiving a Barbie doll, Barbie clothes and pajamas.  I was a very happy and thankful girl! 

                                                                   Ephesians 1:3 (entire chapter)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.......

I am now sixty years old and I am so excited about Christmas!  However, it's no longer about the presents under the tree, it's now all about the presence of Jesus Christ in my life.  I am spending time in my favorite chair and I'm studying the gifts that are mine in Christ Jesus! 

These are the gifts of God's Son unwrapped:  Acceptance* Adoption* Blameless* Blessed * Chosen* Forgiveness* Freedom* Holiness* Love*.   I am a very happy and thankful woman!   

                                                                    Morning Prayer
Dear God, 
     This Christmas, may the eyes of my heart be focused on unwrapping the gifts that You have given to me through the birth of Your Son, Jesus Christ.  I want to receive all that You have chosen for me.  Amen ~