the Word Wednesday

Well, I'm back.  Hubby got the computer back up and running again.  YEAH!!  It's amazing how much one really relies on their computer.  I learned that about myself.  I think I'm heading toward being an addict!  Uh-oh!

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Luke 2:19

But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

I just love that these verses were added to the story of the birth of Christ.  As moms, we truly do treasure praise for our children.  Maybe you tend to keep these things to yourself and store them in your heart.  Mary's heart must have bursting at the seems.  I can only imagine.

the Word Wednesday

I am just so enjoying the Christmas story this year.  I've been trying to put more focus on celebrating Christ's birth rather than getting caught up in the busyness.

I say all of this as I'm smack dab in the middle of my busiest week in quite some time, but I'm learning I can still have Christmas in my heart even if I'm not doing the "traditional" things I usually do this time of year.

Matthew 1:23

"Look!  The virgin will conceive a child! 

She will give birth to a son, and they will

call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us'."

Don't you just love what his name means?  God with us.  God in flesh walking this earth with us.  Sometimes I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that.  It just seems so hard to imagine being Mary, Jesus' mother.  Holding God in the flesh.  All I can think is WOW!

the Word Wednesday

Hi friends.  I hope you'll forgive me for getting this posted so late.  My day got away from me, but I've been burdened to get this written.
I haven't been able to get my mind off of the birth of Jesus.  I might have mentioned last week that Luke 2 is one of my favorite passages of scripture, so I decided to stay put this week.  Just might for the month of December. 

Luke 2:6-7

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

So much comes to mind when I read these verses.  Mary was far away from home.  She had been riding a donkey for days and was now asked to deliver her baby in a stable.  Oh how I wish I could have been there.  I try to imagine that is was a peaceful quiet softly lit place, when really I'm sure it was just opposite.  I'm sure the ground was hard and I'm sure she screamed from the pain.  And I can only imagine the smells and the noises coming from the animals.  It could have been dark and maybe cold.  I'm sure she wished she had more than strips of cloth to wrap her baby.  I'm sure she used the best of what was available to her.  This is all so different than how we have given birth.  And yet, He was our savior.  Such a humble way to make His presence.  Yes, I sure wish I could have been there.  It has made the Christmas story all the more special. 

the Word Wednesday

Last night I read through Luke 2.  I decided to join Cyndi in a countdown to Christmas.  This was the first time I had read it in the NLT.  I have it memorized in KJV, but decided to read in another version.  Luke 2 is one of my favorite passages of scripture.  This particular time a section struck me in a way it hadn't before.  So, I hope you'll let me share a couple of verses today instead of just one.  (they go together)

Luke 2:8-11

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  "Don't be afraid!" he said.  "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"

Wow, I tried to imagine myself in the shepherds shoes.  Minding my own business when an angel suddenly appears!  Radiating God's glory!  I don't know about you, but the only thing that radiates from me is sweat!  :]  I would be terrified too.  But the angel brought great news.  Their Messiah had come.  Our savior was born!!!  Can you imagine??  I would follow that star to see him too. 

I love it.  I just love this story.  I never grow tired of reading it.  I love that I am still learning new things everytime I read it. 

the Word Wednesday

Hi my friends.  I'm continually amazed at how God is using me for the Word Wednesday.  He is constantly guiding me through it and showing me where to go with each post.  I am richly blessed (in many ways) to work in a christian environment.  I'm surrounded by christian friends and scripture!  How many of you can say that?  I work in a christian bookstore, but we sell gifty home items, including pictures and those pictures always include scripture.  It truly is a Holy place where the Lord's presence dwells.  However, there are those days when you wonder.  Customers can take away from the peace and tranquility of the atmosphere.  Anyway, got a little sidetracked there, while at work one day last week this piece of scripture jumped off of the picture at me.  It hit me when I needed it and was a great reminder for me.  Again, I'm continually amazed by God working in my life.  So, this verse is:

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."

As I have mentioned before, my husband was out of town last week for 10 days and I was holding down the fort and family while he was gone.  It was exhausting and hard to do.  One may not realize how often you rely on your spouse just for daily survival.    Well, this verse reminded me to call on Jesus for help.  How often I forget and think I can do it on my own.  What a great reminder that I can't.  I absolutely need Jesus everyday in everything even the little things of daily life.  And they are little.  I love that He cares about the little things.  Even now, I'm barely out of bed, husband at work, kids home from school and are already fighting.  I'm already weary from it.  I'm calling on Jesus today to help me through.  I know he will.  There will be time for rest.  I will take this day as it comes and thank God for it.  And hopefully I will not lose my temper, patience and sanity. 

Thank you my friend Bevy for your post today.  It was a blessing and something I needed to hear read today.  I think there are times that God needs us to do things we don't necessarily want to be doing, but He gives us the help to do it if we just seek Him. I hope that as the time progresses today and into the holiday weekend that you will remember to go to God and He will give you rest.  He will take your burdens and give you rest!!! Amazing!

the Word Wednesday

I'm really enjoying my new Wednesday blogs.  For the second Wednesday in a row, God woke me up early.  This morning it was just Him reminding me that I need to post a verse today. 

Lamentations 3:22-23

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.



This is one of my favorite verses.  For many reasons.  A few years back I went through a very difficult time physically and this verse brought hope in that I would not be consumed.  I felt God's mercy and compassion during that time.  I have found this verse to be oh so true!  Isn't it great to know that God gives us a fresh start and a second chance "new" every morning? 

Great is His faithfulness!

the Word Wednesday

I decided to try something new on my blog.  I've seen a lot of versions of Wednesday blogs.  None just seemed to work for me.  Then it came to me to post a verse.  (I think it was a God-thing)   And so, the Word Wednesday is born.

I had a verse in mind for this post until this morning.  I woke up uncharacteristically early.  I laid in bed and desperately tried to go back to sleep, but I realized that would not happen and that God wanted me up and studying my Bible.  It was in that quiet time (before the kids wake and crazy happens) that God showed me which verse to post. 

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God.

I wasn't studying in Psalms, but God reminded me to "Be Still."  Its in the still and quiet that we hear God.

I normally roll out of bed and start my day, but I'm thanking God that on this "the Word Wednesday" God woke me up and gave me a time to "Be Still" before the day begins.