W is for Write - Blog Hop Friday

Can you believe we only have a few more weeks of blog hop Friday? When I signed up to be a part of it I wondered how hard it would be to post regularly and whether or not I'd be able to keep up with the schedule. The more I consistently wrote, the easier I found it to be. In fact I signed up for an additional blog hop that focused on the Christmas season too.

Now as we near the end I find that I want to keep writing blog posts. I don't know how much my posts always mean to my readers, but I find they are often therapeutic for me. Perhaps that's partly why I write - to not only get words down on paper but also to be able to work through things I may be going through at the time.

For me... writing is something I thoroughly enjoy. So on this blog hop Friday, W is for write. :)

When was the last time that you sat down and wrote something?

Unwrappings

It's the day after Christmas and many experience a let down after the holiday is over. The presents are unwrapped and perhaps strewn around the living room floor. For some they are back to the regular grind again.

I typically don't face these emotions since my husband and I were married the day after Christmas - 26 years ago. While others are returning gifts they didn't want, some are out shopping for those post-season discounts, my husband and I typically have a quiet day together. Often we go to a movie and go out for a nice dinner together.

How about you? Do you have a let down after Christmas is over? How do you spend December 26th?

Thanks for being a part of the Holly Jolly Blog Hop. Praying you have a blessed 2014.

V is for Valley

Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

I have to admit - I've been in the midst of a valley lately. Ever have one of those seasons where you're hit with too many things at once and all you want to do is go to bed and wake up to find it was all a dream?

Yeah. 

That's where I am right now. I see glimpses of sunshine from time to time only to be overwhelmed by another storm again. I have to admit - it's not a fun place to be. I'd much rather be on that mountain top, experiencing life at it's finest. But we can't always stay on the mountains. It's often only through the desert and darkest valleys that God can teach us valuable lessons.

He promises to be with us... through the valleys, through the trials of life, through the good times. He promised in Hebrews 13:5b, "...or He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you." I take comfort in that.

So where are you today - on the mountain top or in the valley? Can you praise Him despite your circumstances?

Adoration

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels!

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
(Words to O Come All Ye Faithful)


When was the last time you stopped and adored Him?

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U is for Uplifted - Blog Hop Friday

Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was elevated above everyone. As he opened it, all the people stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Nehemiah 8:5-6

When's the last time you uplifted your hands in praise, or bowed and worshiped Him? Christmas is a great time to start again. 

HOPE

I put my hope in You, Lord - Psalm 38:15a

Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You. - Psalm 39:7

Israel, put your hope in the Lord.
For there is faithful love with the Lord,
and with Him is redemption in abundance.
8 And He will redeem Israel
from all its sins. - Psalm 130:7-8

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. - Jeremiah 29: 11-12

Because of the Lord’s faithful love
we do not perish,
for His mercies never end.
23 They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness!
24 I say: The Lord is my portion,
therefore I will put my hope in Him. - Lamentations 3:22-24


OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD. HE IS THE REASON WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS.


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T is for Today - Blog Hop Friday

But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. Hebrews 3:13

A simple question or two for this blog hop Friday.

Who needs your encouragement today? 

What can you do to show that encouragement?

Christmas Countdown

ADVENTure

As we begin the Advent season, I thought it would be fun to start the month with an ADVENTure as we tune our hearts toward the true reason why we celebrate the season.

Adoration
Two groups of people came to adore and worship the baby Jesus.

The shepherds, after hearing this proclamation from the angels:

I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to people He favors! (Luke 2:10-14)

They did this:
They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.(Luke 2:16-18)

The wise men also came to adore the new child:

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him.Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)

When was the last time you stopped and adored Christ?

Devotion
Here is the protection of the Most High when we choose to devote our lives to Him.

Because he is lovingly devoted to Me,
I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he knows My name.
15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble.
I will rescue him and give him honor.(Psalm 91:14-15)

Are you fully devoted to the Lord?

Victorious
Jesus Christ is victorious. He will defeat Satan.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah,the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll. (Revelation 5:5)

You have nothing to fear because the Lord is victorious.

Encourage
Many people are hurting, particularly around the holidays.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Who can you encourage this Christmas season?

New
You have this promise if you have given your life to the Lord.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Have you made your life new in Him?

Testimony
We each have a testimony or story of how we came to salvation in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said:

When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony of God to you... (1 Corinthians 2:1)

When was the last time you shared your testimony with someone?

So are you ready to go on an ADVENTure this Christmas?


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