Glad Tidings of Comfort and Joy

It's that time of year again and the Christmas rush is upon us. It seems like as soon as the Labor Day picnic ends...it's the holidays! For some excited bunch, they're ready to hang the lights, while others want it to slow down. But sadly, for many, this time of year stirs up depression, anxiety and stress.

We know the devils consistent at being unruly, but he acts up even more during the holidays. After all, we are celebrating the birth of the Messiah. He's just trying to distract the world from those glad tidings of comfort and joy.  

Tidings are defined as: news, information, a report or a word. Well, on the night of our dear Saviors birth, God sent a heavenly host to announce the glorious news of the Christ child. The promised One had arrived - our Lamb of God, Redeemer, Lord and King was wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. This reminder of Gods eternal Gift entering the earth realm, has the enemy on the prowl. 

He hates the gospel, but there's nothing he can do about it. He can't change the course of eternity.

  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, 

but have everlasting life".  John 3:16

He came! And He still lives! He's everything God said He would be and more! We can rest in the truth of the amazing gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the Gift God sent.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, 

Prince of Peace".  Isaiah 9:6

The next time you're tempted to stress in the season, just remember Who's on the throne. No amount of earthly goods will ever come close to the Gift of God. It's indescribable!

We don't have any reason to be depressed. Especially if we have loved ones who've passed on, we are joyous in the promise of eternal life. 

The devil's a liar, he's lost against God. As children of God we inherit Gods blessing! 

We have the Prince of Peace residing in our hearts and the Wonderful Counselour Who hung the stars. Things look very bright for us! 

I know it's tempting to get caught up in stress, but we don't have to take it. We can take the Gift of God instead. The next time you feel anxiety coming on, I want you to close your eyes and look for Jesus. 

Picture yourself unwrapping everything promised in Him. Smile and be comforted, because you are victorious! It's a guaranteed win. With God nothing shall be impossible!

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light, from now on your troubles will be out of sight, have yourself a merry little Christmas, make the yuletide gay, from now on your troubles will be miles away..."   

Great Minds Think Alike

Have you ever had an instance where you thought along the same lines as someone else on a particular subject? This happens to me many times. My husband and I will be having a discussion and sometimes I'll be thinking of a similar concept before he says it. This can happen with anyone.

When our thinking aligns with what the speaker says, we usually give ourselves the compliment, "great minds think alike". And it's true, as long as we're thinking like God. And trust me when I say, you didn't come up with it first, He did. He's the one who brought it to your remembrance. The truth is, He's the greatest mastermind of all.

If we want our minds to be great, we need to think like Him. And the great news is, we can! He's given us A "backstage pass" into His very own mind. When we know someone who's mastered something or has become a professional at his skill we say, "Man, I'd like to pick their brain". We say this because we value their advice and high level of expertise. In other words, we want to know what they know!

Well, there's no one on the planet smarter than Jesus. Everything you see, and don't see was made by Him. He's the Architect of all. If your looking for a "brand name" that's on everything, it's JESUS!

 "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him, and for Him. He is before all things, and In Him all things hold together. 

And He is the head of the body, the church".  He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things, He may have preeminence. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him".  - Colossians 1: 15-19

You may ask, "how can I pick His mind"? God had you in mind before the creation of the world,  so He's had this figured out for a very long time! His plan was to never leave you alone. :)

"For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one know the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God. That we may understand what God has freely given us". 

As a born again Christian we have His Spirit living in us so that we may follow His lead instead of our own. great minds do think alike, but He will always be greater.

My Hiding Place

When I was little I loved being outside. We were fortunate enough to have a decent amount of land which backed right up into the woods. And with a large lawn comes a large amount of mowing and raking. Every Spring, Summer and Fall my dad would spend most of his time doing some type of gardening. He was always planting something new!

I liked exploring the woods but oddly, one of my favorite places to relax, was underneath a large Forsythia bush in our front yard. As a child there was plenty of room in there to be concealed. Although I really wasn't hiding from anyone, I just liked the way It felt being covered from the outside world.  Another favorite of mine was our Lilac bush. I often sat right up against it as I pulled those fragrant flower clusters towards me for a fresh scent. But the larger of the two became my hide-out. The Forsythia.

After all these years I can still recall peering through those branches. As I sat under the canopy of it's bright yellow flowers I could see out, but no one could see in. So it became my secret place.

It was quiet and peaceful just to sit there and do nothing. There's something about being hidden that comforts the inner man.

Everyone likes to "get away" or escape to find solitude. That's why we like vacations. Not necessarily are we excited about a week of entertainment, but rather for a time to dwell in peace.

Fleeing the pressures of life allow us to become invigorated and refreshed. While resting from work heals the body, spiritual rest mends the soul.


Life changes a lot when we become adults. It demands our full attention. Obviously I can't go back to my childhood "hide-out" anymore. And truthfully, I don't have to. Because I've found a better ONE.

I don't even have to run off to some strange exotic land to find rest, true rest is found in God.

"Yes, my soul finds rest in God; my hope comes from Him. Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken". ~Psalm 62:5

As I look back I can understand why that live plant which covered me gave me comfort. It was symbolic of the Tree of Life, my Jesus. His living presence covers me from the outside world, providing protection and peace.  According to Colossians chapter three, I am now hidden in Christ.

"Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory". 

I didn't realized it back then, but now I know... He was right there with me, every time I hid.
and He's never left my side. 

I strongly believe that when it's my time to go to heaven, it won't be long until me and my Jesus will sit together under those bushes. 💗

Finding Help in Time of Need

Have you ever needed help and looked around intently, but there was no help in sight? We've all been there. For some reason this inconvenient absence makes us uncomfortable. In these solitary moments we're greeted with, "Please ring bell for service."  

So we ring. and wait. And in the same manner like a microwave dings, we expect someone to pop up right away. While we're delayed, we persistently ring, ever more passionately, thinking it might solve our dilemma, when in reality, it just agitates the matter.  

A few days ago I was walking by a counter with one of those bells. It brought this thought to mind, "Wouldn't it be nice if there were a bell I could ring to get Gods attention, because I really need Him right now!" 

If only He'd interrupt this season of difficulty and make it end!
Let's face it, we all need Gods help, and we always will. Have you ever felt as though He were absent, not around, or not even aware when you need help the most?? 

Remember that huge storm that was about to overtake the disciples and Jesus was.... sleeping?  "Ding...! Ding...! Ding!! 

"Just ring the bell louder and harder, perhaps He'll come quicker", "Wake up Jesus! Don't you care that we're perishing"?  

Jesus was present on the boat, He never left. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was a lack of faith which surmounted in fear.

I was doing the same thing. Inwardly I was crying out for God's help - no bell, just my alarming thoughts. And during that loud thought process, right there in that store, He told me to write about this. And just like those waves became quiet, my heart responded to His voice. That anxiety subsided and turned into peace. 

The giants we face may seem overwhelming, but they are no match for our victorious God - Who resides on the inside of us. 
I looked up the word reside, it means -  

Have ones permanent home in a particular place; to lodge, live in, stay in, or occupy.

That's amazing!!! He's always home -in us. And...since He never leaves, abandons, or departs, His word is never even paused! It's living, flowing, transforming, and helping us, on a continual basis. 
If we abide in the Vine, we'll bear much fruit! 
Whoa, even the fruit of PATIENCE? Ha-ha. Yes.

Even when we feel like we're alone, we never are. We have the promised Holy Spirit, the Helper Himself on stand by. 

Instead of picturing abandonment, we can picture Jesus always wearing His favorite shirt, that reads..."Ever Present Help."  :) 

 Psalm 46...

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts up his voice, the earth melts. 

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done... it goes on to say...

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 

We're not actually waiting on God to do something. "It is finished". We're simply waiting on ourselves - to grow up in faith. As we dwell in the tabernacle of His presence, we will mature and become stronger. 

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

He is Emmanuel.. God with us.