"A Child, Our Symbol Of Hope"

Hope, an expectation of things to come. Hope, something we can't live without. We are all hoping for something. Maybe it is a new job, a cure, a new day, a brighter tomorrow. What are you hoping for? The best symbol of hope I can think of is a child. In Biblical times, you were considered cursed if you did not have a child and blessed if you did. No child, no hope, but when a child was conceived, it brought hope. Hope that the curse would be removed and you would be given new life. Children are signs of a bright future, one filled with joy. Look back with me at some stories of hope brought on by the birth of a child. Sarah and Abraham were given hope for the fulfillment of God's promise for a great nation through the birth of Isaac. Hannah was given hope when she conceived Samuel, the child she had yearned and soaked the altar in prayer for. Elizabeth was barren for many years before her baby John was brought into the world. Can you feel the joy and excitement a long awaited baby brought to these women? There were other times when the loss of a child brought great sorrow. Jacob grieved greatly at the loss of his favorite son Joseph at the hands of his brothers. David lost his child and mourned for him deeply. The Shunammite women was promised a son by the prophet Elisha and was given one. He later became sick and died. What great joy, after intense sorrow, was in that house when the child was risen from the dead by Elisha? But the greatest story of hope, was the birth of Jesus. His birth is one that can be celebrated with joy by all. His birth brings hope to my soul. It is personal. This baby brings into our sinful world, the hope for a cure for our wickedness. This child is our symbol of hope, a symbol of things to come, a brighter tomorrow and a heavenly future. This week worship the child that gives us hope.

Ephesians 2:12-13 "that at that time you were without Christ, ... having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Titus 2: 13-14 "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed...."
Hebrews 6:11-12 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Who are you searching for?

My three year old son sleeps in his own bed most of the time, but when he gets woke up in the middle of the night he comes into our room. There is no room for him in the bed so he just lies on the floor and goes back to sleep. Just knowing we are near gives him comfort. One morning this week, I got up early and found him on the floor next to the bed. I left him there and quietly took his sisters to school. A little later, he woke up and looked around and found out I was missing from the bed. He went to his sleeping dad and put a finger on his cheek and turned his head to look at my side of the bed. He then told his dad someone was missing. He went looking. He finally found me in the living room reading. When he found me, he said,"Mommy, I found you! You were missing and now I found you!" He ran to me and wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me a kiss. This is a love relationship. He loves me and I love him. He notices when I am not there and I notice when he is not there. If we truly love others we know when they are missing. We go looking for them till we find them. My thinking took me one step further to my relationship with my heavenly Father. Do I notice when He is missing in my life? Do I go searching for Him or hope He will eventually return? If you are like me, my attitudes and actions sometimes are the best indicator of how much time I have spent with my Father getting His perspective. I challenge you this Christmas season take time to make sure God is not missing in your life, in your celebrations, and in your attitude. If He is missing, go looking for Him. He wants for you to find Him. He will be overjoyed at your return and wrap you in arms of love.

Psalm 63:1-"O God, You are my God, Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water."
Proverbs 8:17-"I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me."

Traditions...What are we passing on?

Christmas Lights, gingerbread houses, Christmas trees and cookies left for Santa, all traditions passed down through time from one generation to another. Traditions make us feel at home, like something remembered, something familiar. We all love memories of years past. A tradition is the act of handing over a long established action or behavior. Sometimes it is good to have the familiar surrounding us, perhaps that is why we love the Christmas season so much because of all the things we do year after year. One of the great things about traditions is that you can begin a new one anytime you want. As a mom, I can generate the lesson of thankfulness, love, joy or maybe forgiveness for years to come just by incorporating a new family custom. Thinking of all these things made we wonder where or when these activities started. When was the first nativity put out? Candy canes, when did a child first lick this treat with delight? Stockings, were they always hung by the chimney with care? How many of these traditions had spiritual meaning when they began? Have we somehow missed the real reason for these traditions? Do we engage in Christmas shopping and sending cards because it is just what our parents always did or what society expects of us? Thanks to the Internet we can research traditions and find the real reasons in order to again pass down the stories and significance of why we do what we do. Everywhere we look this Christmas season are wonderful things we can use to pass on the story of Christ to others. The Christmas colors green and red stand for eternal life and Christ's redemptive blood. The candy cane has a lot of spiritual representation and can be a great witnessing tool if we just knew the story of how they were created. I challenge you this Christmas season find out why you do what you do. It just might spark a spiritual conversation with someone around you that can be passed on to the next generation. Don't just do it because it is routine. It will mean so much more when you discover the true origin and reason. Don't just sing the carols, think of the words and truly worship the King. The baby in the manger is not a symbol for Christmas, it is our most precious gift. It is the true reason for the season.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when thou sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates." (NKJV)

Is Your Life Precious?

Yesterday, I spent the day by the bedside of my dear sweet grandmother as her life is drawing to a close. My grandmother led a life that followed the two greatest commandments, to love God and others with your whole heart. She loved out loud and lavishly. Come and take a glimpse inside this room with me. As we look around we can see family and friends holding hands in prayer. We see songs like "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace", and "What A Day That Will Be" being sung as we all await her home going. We are blessed to be here. We hear stories of the night before of her singing with lifted hands and saying she just wants to be with her Jesus. If we step back a little father we can see the most awesome thing of all, look around, there is a room, a hallway, a cafe, and living area (about 40 in all) full of family and close friends who dropped everything in their lives to be here for as much time as possible. She is genuinely loved because she loved genuinely. The stories have poured forth of her love and care for others even from her hospital bed. One of her last hopes and concerns is that all of her family and friends be saved so we can all be together again in heaven. Looking at this scene, I realized, as I hope you do too, that this is love in action. This is what being Jesus to others is. It is a simple card or phone call when there is a need. It is inviting those who have no place to go, to share in your families holiday celebrations. It is caring about others when they talk and being able to share wisdom with kindness. It is following the Holy Spirit's leading when He tells you to do something no matter how small you think it is. A scripture comes to me today, Psalm 116:15 says "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Precious meaning valuable, honorable, rare or prized. All good words to describe my grandmother's life. I want this is to be said of me. Can this be said of you? Do something small for someone today, you never know what a BIG difference it can make.
Proverbs 31:25,26,28,30 "Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opened her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Her children arise and call her blessed. A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

Being Delightful

To know my six-year old daughter is to love her. She is such a delight to be around. She is always happy, giggly, and dances to anything that has a beat. Lately, she has been learning Bible verses to recite in her Awana club at Church. A couple of weeks ago she was able to recite seven verses to her leader for a contest they were doing. She walks around saying her verses to anyone that will listen.
As a Mom, who is committed to Christ, it does my heart good when she desires to know God through His Word. I am so proud of her. God says in His Word that we are to delight in His Word. Delight means to take pleasure in and enjoyment from. To rejoice, to love, to consider His Word a luxury, something valuable.
We should long after Him as a deer desires water. Sometimes we see serving God as a chore, but this only occurs when we have gone a few days, months, years without communicating with Him through prayer and Bible study. When a close friend asks me to do something, it is not something I have to do but something I want to do. It is a different story when someone asks me to do something who often does not even act like I exist.
I long to hear from God through His Word. The more I am seeking this the more joy I get from it. Do you desire God's Word? Do you long for Him to speak to you? Get in the Word. He delights in us when we choose to be in a relationship with Him. Just as I delight in my daughter as a Mom, God delights in us. Daughter of the the Most High God, spend some time with your Father and be delightful today.

Psalm 1:2- "But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Psalm 119:24- "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors."
Psalm 37:4- "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

Having it my way...

"Have it your way!" This is a great slogan for hamburgers, but not so much a motto to be adopted for a way of life. Some of us learn this concept the hard way. Ever lived with or been around someone with this slogan? It can be hard to be thankful in this situation. With three kids, my daily life is a struggle of the wills, everyone
trying to get their own way, including my own. Sometimes the unhappiness is verbal and sometimes it is displayed through actions. To have a happy, Godly home no one can truly have their own way all the time, that is why we must all seek God's direction individually. Satan has deceived our generation into becoming self-centered with materialism and greed. Even when we get our own way, it contains only temporary satisfaction. It is not long before we find something else to strive for. It reminds me of King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon says he had gained every material possession available. He had houses, vineyards, trees, gardens, orchards, pools, servants, silver and gold. He says in chapter two "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them, I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure." Having all this, He came to the conclusion that it was all empty. In chapter four, he is so unhappy he wishes he was dead. When you look at yourself only, you miss so much and it is never truly satisfying. We can have our own way, but only God knows how much hurt to others we leave in our wake. True joy and happiness comes from a life surrendered to Jesus. What are you striving for? Money, possessions, approval of others, having your own way, or are you aiming to have complete joy and contentment in Christ. Take it from King Solomon, selfish desires are empty and lead us no where. Focus on Christ, He is the source of joy, happiness and contentment.

Can you think of any other advertising slogans that promote a selfish way of thinking? Post them here or on Facebook at the Reflections of His Heart women's ministry group page. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I Samuel 12:20-21- "Then Samuel said to the people, 'Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.'"
Ecclesiastes 2:11- "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled, and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun."

God's Presence

My soon to be four year old son is all boy. He runs from place to place usually away from me. He runs round and round the table, the car, or anything else he can get between us. I do not desire to chase him around in circles and, believe me he gets his fair punishment when I finally catch him, but it is of great frustration to me in the moment when I can not relay the seriousness of disobedience. Usually, the easiest way for me to end this cat and mouse game is for me to simply walk away and say "Okay, I am leaving you" and start to go forward, get in the car or go in the house, leaving him behind. He immediately stops his running, looks around to see if I am serious, then runs after me saying, "No, wait Mom don't leave me." He is genuinely scared that I just may do that one day.
The first part of Exodus 33 describes this vary situation. The prior chapter ends with God sending a plague to the Israelites as punishment for the sin of making and worshipping the golden calf. God is still angry with them for their disobedience. He tells Moses I will still give them the land I have promised them but you go on without me. He feared in his righteous anger He just may consume them all together. He was saying I am tired of chasing you. You go in the way of your choice, but I am not going with you. The Israelites, faced with the knowledge of God leaving them behind immediately began to mourn and repent. Moses pleaded with God that His presence not leave them and God granted Moses' request. Is God getting tired of chasing you? Are you tired of running? He wants a personal relationship with you. One based on love. He will not force it on us. He wants willing hearts to follow Him. I pray His presence never leaves me because of my disobedience. I can't imagine my life without Him. How about you?
Exodus 33:3-4- "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned....."
Exodus 33:15- "Then he said to Him, "If your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here."