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Thankful Thursday ~ Christmas

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:11-14 ESV

As I had shared today at Laced with Grace, I love reading the Christmas story in Luke 2. Not only at Christmas time, but all year long. Isn’t it beautiful how God made a way for us to be saved? Yes salvation came through a little baby boy born in a stable.

Luke 2_DecemberBut what mostly impresses me how obedient Mary was. You see, she could have been only about 15 or 16 years old when Gabriel (see Luke 1:26-38) appeared to her sharing that she would be child. Mary was already engaged to be married to Joseph. I can’t even imagine how she felt when Gabriel made the announcement to her. But God knew what He was doing; He knew that Mary would be obedient.

I am thankful for Mary, Joseph (still marrying Mary after he knew she was pregnant), but mostly I am thankful that Jesus left the throne to become human. I love Christmas and the promise that is fulfilled on Good Friday.

What are your thankful for this week. Please do share with us by leaving a link to your Thankful Thursday post below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: no matter how busy you are this Christmas season, make room for Jesus in your heart.

Merry Christmas!!!!
Iris

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Not So Silent Night
2. When there are no Words
3. Focusing on Joy this Christmas Season
4. Pamela @ the Songs on the Way		 5. LaughingLady
6. Bethany
7. 4 Ways God Works Tragic Events to Good
8. Were the Mayans Right?		 9. Our Lord & Savior, Jesus
10. Heather@Living In the Moment
11. The Straight and Narrow

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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Thankful Thursday ~ Praise

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.”
~ Psalm 18:1-3 (ESV emphasis mine)

David is my favorite Old Testament follower of God. Not only did he write the most beautiful Psalms and hymns, but he stumbled in his walk with God. When someone like David stumbled, how can I except to sail through life without any bruises?

What I have learned this past year, that I praise my Lord not for my circumstances, but I am praising him in my circumstances. Does that make sense? You see, I don’t like to ‘learn’, but I know that I can lean on my Lord to see me through the learning curve 😛 …

Praise was on my mind all week…so, here is my list of praise for this week:

  • Lord, I want to always have praise on my lips, because of your faithfulness. Lord, help me to always lift my eyes to the hills — you are my strength, my shield and my stronghold…

  • Lord, I praise Your name for Your message about marriage this week. I know that this particular radio program was a personal message to me. Lord, help me to be the wife You already know I can be…

  • Lord, I praise Your name for sending Your Son. Lord, help me to keep the focus on the true reason for this season…

  • Lord, I praise Your name for all the daily needs. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am — a roof over my head, reliable transportation, running water, food on the table — daily…

  • Lord, I praise Your name for my friends — near and far. Lord, I thank You that you have healed a friendship that I thought was broken forever…

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us in leaving your link below. Since Christmas Day is on a Thursday this year, please head on over to the sidebar and participate in the “Thankful Thursday Poll“. This will give me an idea if you are willing to share your grateful hearts on Christmas Day – thanks a million 😛 .

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Praise Him in your circumstances, even if you don’t feel like praising Him for your circumstances…

Be blessed today and as always…


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Walk the Talk

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” ~ Psalm 19:14 (ESV)

As I had mentioned last week, my friend Lynn got me going with her post about “Edgy Christianity“. One book she had mentioned on her list was titled “I am fine with God…It’s Christians I Can’t Stand”. I have not bought/read the book, just took a peak at Amazon to read the first chapter…

One major annoyance to the unsaved population is that we try to impress our moral points with force on them. Do we? Do we point out what is wrong in their lives rather than to point to the cross of Salvation? Are we hypocrites? Modern day Pharisees?

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.” ~ Matthew 23:25-26 (ESV)

Sadly part of me has to agree. You see, the world does not see the ‘average’ Christian, but the high profile preachers/teachers/tele-evangelists. How many have we seen preach moral points “Do this, don’t do that”? How many of them later stumbled over the exact issue (sin) — fell from their high horse?

My point is that we all are sinners (believers and unbelievers). We are all in need of a Savior. We are not saved by our own works, but by the grace of God:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

You see, good works is not what brings us to saving faith. Good works begins after we have been saved. Are we no longer a sinner after Christ reached down to save us? By no means. As for me, I sin daily. Do I want to? Of course not. But I am human. God gave me free will — sometimes I make wrong choices. Does God love me less because of the choices I have made? No, but I can not be in someones face because of their sin.

So how can we share the Gospel without self-righteous talk? Get out of the way…Walk the talk with His guidance and strength. Let us admit to our own sinful nature. Share what Christ has done in us. Only Christ can change hearts — we don’t have the power to do that. Let me close with a quote by St. Francis of Assisi:

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”

Blessings to your weekend and as always…