CREATE JOY

Some like to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas separate.  For me, they are so enter twined it is one big Celebration. Thanksgiving is all about the blessings we have been  given from God........freedom, family, shelter, health. But, why not include the birth of Jesus Christ in our thanks.  He is the love of God sent to give the ultimate gift, His life.

No question about it, WORDS can  hurt...... Once something is said it is very hard to let it go.......to not let it sink deep into who we are. By the time we are grown, most of us have endured many hurtful words.  Some much more than others.  For example, I have many very good friends who are black who have experienced racism.  Ignorant people have commented about something the have no right to say and do not understand.  The wound pierces deep and is hard to get over, to let go of........Now racism goes far beyond words, but lets start there. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from  it flow the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 This verse says it all. out of the heart flow "all" of the issues of life What is in your heart, will come out your mouth! Could it be that the answer to all of our life's issues is simply for mankind to come to God with our heart conditions, and let the cleansing refreshing Word of God clean our hearts and give us a new outlook on life

Compassion-   feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. When you see someone who is struggling, stricken with misfortune  do you; cringe and avoid them......... wonder what they did to deserve this trial........ preach to them about how to fix their problems...... do you; show compassion.... listen...... pray with them.... . put your arms around them (even if they aren't clean) I love this scripture When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and  was troubled, 34  And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35  Jesus wept. I have heard sermons preached about how Jesus was saddened that they doubted Him and His ability to "fix the problem".  Jesus groaned in the spirit (small s, that means his human spirit).  I believe He groa

                                           Holy and blameless in love.....

blessings............ It is easy to forget all God does for us.  We are so earth minded, we start looking around us and see the life we don't have and always thought we would,  all of our plans that never happened,.......it is in our nature.  We can make the decision to be thankful and then put effort into that action. "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, do not be discouraged thinking all is lost. Count you many blessings name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." -Johnathan Oatman-   Ephesians 1:3-6 – “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

Always on my mind For me Church is work......does that sound bad?  It's actually quite a blessing and a high honor... ..... ....Church is for the broken and hurting and where God can reach out to people through people.  We are His chosen method of helping.  It is both exhausting and so rewarding, and worth every second.  Rest comes...........sweet and precious when we are alone with Him, refreshing and reviving us as we spend time together. Working for Jesus full time is a heart "hart" condition.  It is not something you can  maintain long term if you are not "fully" in love with Him.  Single minded. It is a joy and an obsession. Psalm 42 King James Version (KJV) 42  As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3  My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?