Category Archives: God

Signs Seen and Followed…

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image via joyousjewels.wordpress.com

The Sign of a Star…

Led Wise Men to search for a King.

To Leave behind their ways of the world…their parts of the world…

Onwards on their search.

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Not the pretty picture of a pristine desert with camels carrying gifts and kings all in a neat tidy row.

The truth of the journey?

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Arduous..an exertion of will…across countryside of no roads or modern conveniences…extended travels far from the familiar…hopes mixed with doubts…

Where will this journey take us?

We are all “Wise Men” enroute in this life to find the True King, the True Ruler of our Hearts so that we may offer Him praise and homage with our lives.

For to offer true worship to Him who is our Creator, is sewn deeply within the fabric of who we are.

These Wise Men saw a sign that splashed light on their journey from the world to Christ.

What signs are in our lives?

image via andypagana.com

Are we following the signs that lead us to be people of praise and thanksgiving?

“Wise Men and Women” may we be given the grace to see the signs He leaves us daily and the courage and the perseverance to follow them home to Him.

“Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country a broad valley.  Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all mankind shall see it together.” Is 40:4-5

All Natural…No Preservative Self…

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“Everyone who has this hope based on Him makes himself pure, as He is pure.”1 John3:3

image via divineexperience.org

To HOPE is to keep one’s eyes on the top of the cross….

image via shinefmafternoons.blogspot.com

while keeping vigil at the foot.

How good, gracious, and merciful is our God that by merely hoping…

Our eyes set on Him who is our HOPE…

We are made PURE.

To be PURE is to be all we are called to be…

no fakes, no masks, no pretense, no artificial flavors…

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100% pure, all natural, no additives, no preservatives.

By being in Your Presence Lord in prayer…

image via turnbacktoGod.com

which in itself is an act of HOPE…

We become more purely who we are…who we are meant to be.

Eternal Life Today…

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“And this is the promise he made us:  eternal life.” 1 John 26

endless…interminable…unceasing…unending…lasting…permament…perpetual…deathless…immortal…undying…everlasting…timeless…infinite…without-end…forever…enduring through all time…ceaseless…always…

LIFE.

When you make a promise you give your word…

God gave us a promise…

God gave us his word…His Word made flesh…

weareisrael.org

 His Word made flesh was the promise of eternal life He gave us.

In the New Year…in this time of resolutions and promises…

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 Shouldn’t our most important promises be given to God?

Promises that bring us closer to His promise?

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What steps can we take this day to bring us nearer to living the life that promises us “always” life?

What promises given to God, to ourselves, to others?

“Heavenly Father, You gave Your promise. You gave Your Word…and the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us so that  Your promise to us of eternal life might be fulfilled.  May we be given the grace to be fully human, beginning eternal life today and drawing others into this forever love.”

Here is a long, but absolutely awesome worship song. Jason Upton’s “One Step Away” will lead you into a taste of that timelessness we all long for. Close your eyes and enjoy this time with God.

 Jason Upton, One Step Away

 

New Year’s Prayer…

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image via thundafunda.net

A New Year’s Prayer
May God make your year a happy one! Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes; Not by making your path easy, But by making you sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from you, But by taking fear from your heart; Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows; Not by making your life always pleasant, But by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help. God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.
Anonymous

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” 1 Peter 1:3

Happy New Year!

The Power of A Voice…

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One voice crying out in the desert led many to “prepare the way of the Lord”

image via scbpeoria.wordpress.com

One voice speaking “Yes” brought the Christ child into the world and allowed countless souls to give their lives to Christ.

image via icanflyjustnotup.blogspot.com

The combined voices of the shepherds,  normally disregarded by society, brought many to their knees to praise and adore the newborn King.

image via blueeyedennis-siemore.blogspot.com

The voice of one woman of questionable reputation was the first to announce the news of the Ressurection to the Apostles.

image via womeninthebible.net

We all have a voice and a message to speak and live.

image via mttcreative.com

 

A voice as unique as the image of God we are created in.

A voice, infused by God’s grace, used to connect others divided by the spirit of the world.

Have you discovered your voice?  Have you discovered what your words spoken and written should truly say?

image via electrovoice.com

 

Have you allowed God to transform your voice to be used as an instrument to unite souls?

May we be given the grace to see and believe like the shepherds and use our voices to praise and glorify God leading others to unite in belief.

Eric Whitacre, a composer, was struck by the power of one voice and this one voice led to the creation of what he calls a “happy accident”.  A young woman sent a recording via the internet of her singing one of Eric’s composed songs.  Eric was struck by the beauty of it and wondered what it would be like to unite other voices in this way.  He sent out a request over the web and was flooded with responses.  From these responses he chose 185 voice from 12 countries and created the first virtual choir.  The video below will  move you.  The power of one voice that led to the creation of many voices all in angelic harmony praising God.  All miles apart uniting in cyberspace to give glory to God.  The song “Lux Aurumque” is Latin for gold and light. The song, a poem writted by Edward Esch, is sung in Latin.  The English translation is:

Light

Warm and heavy as pure gold

And angels sing softly

to the newborn babe.

http://youtu.be/D7o7BrlbaDs

Let us end 2011 with voices of thanksgiving for all the blessings received.  Let us welcome 2012 with voices of praise for all that is to come. And may we use our voices always for the praise of God’s glory in that unique way only we can speak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank yous….

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Thank you http://caddoveil.wordpress.com for nominating me for the Kreativ Blogger Award. If you haven’t visited Caddoveil’s blog please do so…she has a true gift of painting words and making them dance. Thank you caddoveil. I thoroughly enjoy your gifted writings.

So….now I must pass share ten things you may not know about me and pass this award on…

1.  I like pelicans. They are a bit funny looking…almost like they received parts from several different birds. They also look a bit clumsy, but if you have ever seen a pelican glide on the wind they are incredibly graceful. It’s a lot like all of us. We are a bit clumsy but with God’s grace we can soar.

2.  I really wish the whole world would slow down a bit and stop and smell the roses. Why do we have to be in such a hurry?

3.  I enjoy painting…splashing vibrant colors on a canvas makes me smile inside and out.

4.  If I’m wearing pink lipstick I am refusing to allow the chronic pain I live in get the best of me.

5.  Shoes are terribly overrated…even though they are cute. Being barefoot is walking like a child.

6.  Many make fun of my southern drawl…but maybe it’s everyone else who talks a bit differently!

7.  I could sit and listen to people’s stories all day long…hidden in them it’s not so hard to see the hand of God.

8.  A chiming clock makes a house a home.

9.  Praise and worship can make a cloudy day sunny.

10.  I strive to do all for the praise of God’s glory…it is for His glory I say thank you for this award.

Please check out the blogs below…I think you will enjoy them.

http://opencanvasjg.wordpress.com

http://revelationsinwriting.wordpress.com

http://warriorpoetwisdom.com

http://apronhead.wordpress.com

Thank you very much to http://poeticjourney251.wordpress.com and http://thewomanatthewell.wordpress.com for nominating me for the Candle Lighter Award. Please take a moment and visit both of these blogs.  And congratulations to you both for receiving this honor. This award was created by Kate Kresse and you can read more about it at http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/the-candle-lighter-award/

This award (according to a reader of Kate’s site)  belongs to those who believe, who always survive the day and those who never stop dreaming, for those who cannot quit, and for those who keep trying and if you have that you are entitled to this award.

For the praise and glory of His name, forever and ever, amen, I sincerely express thanksgiving to Kate, to poeticjourney, for the womanatthewell, and for all those who through their blogs keep their candles burning so others may come and find light in a world that in so many ways is in darkness.

I would like to pass on the Candle Lighter Award to

http://gracefullwomen.com

http://lightonmypath.wordpress.com

A Progressive Flash Mob?….

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Adoration of the Shepherdsby Castiglione

“Joy to the World! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart, prepare him room and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n and heav’n and nature sing. “

Yes, the King has come. Has he found room “at the Inn” of your heart?

The Shepherds tending to their flocks come to adore.

The Wise Men inspired by the Holy Spirit begin their journey in search for the King.

How many “wise men” in our midst today are still searching for the King?…

who are driven by the restlessness of their hearts to follow the star to find He who is the answer to all their longings?

The angels sang glory and praise that led many to come and adore.

We too this day can be those angels of glory and praise that announce the Good News to the “wise men” in search.

Below is a video that always brings tears to my eyes

and I have a challenge to make at the end of the clip.

Hallelujah

A bit difficult to begin a flash mob in the blogging world…but what about a “progressive” flash mob?

I challenge each who reads this post and watches the video to stand up, right where they are, and sing boldly in praise and thanksgiving a “Hallelujah from the heart”.

Together our Hallelujahs will unite, and with the angels above our song of praise becomes a prayer to lead the “Wise Men in search” to the heart of the King.

May we all this day be Messengers of the Good News!

Merry Christmas!

Born Within Us…

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“Because there was no room in the Inn, Jesus had to be born elsewhere …

that is, in each one of us.

We may be simple and humble, like a stable…

But with Christ within us we can be magnificent and change the world.” (Michael Moran)

Live + Jesus.

image by fromtheheartofj

THE KING IS COMING…THE KING IS COMING…

HE IS ALMOST HERE!

Become the Gift…

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Jesus was born dying…

Dying to LOVE you.

image via grahamjbaird.blogspot.com

The wood of the manger…the wood of the cross.

Christ Child breaking open the virginal womb of Mary…Crucified Christ tearing the temple veil in two.

image via cometoourfathershouse.blogspot.com

Newborn Babe swaddled in clothes…Christ Man mocked in purple cloth.

image via bbc.co.uk

Blessed Mother holding the Babe to her chest…Sorrowful Mother holding her Son from the Cross.

image via chinaolipaintinggallery.com

Angels singing triumphantly “Holy, Holy, Holy”…Soldier at cross declaring, “Surely this was the Son of Man.”

image via sodahead.com

Jesus, God with a human face, born to die for LOVE of You!

When we receive the gift of the Christ Child, we receive the LOVE that came into the world to lay down His life for all.

Do we realize the true message of Christmas is about the Receiving?

The greatest gift we can give to our loved ones is to RECEIVE more deeply the LOVE that knows no bounds…

And LIVE that LOVE passionately.

Have you received the GIFT of Christmas?…Would you lay down your life for another?

May we all more deeply RECEIVE…

image via transfigurations.blogspot.com

So we may all more deeply GIVE.

RECEIVE and become the GIFT.

Give Christmas away.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8: 38-39

A Day Well Spent…

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If you planted hope today in any hopeless heart…

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If someone’s burden was lighter because you did your part…

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If you caused a laugh that chased some tears away…

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If tonight your name is named when someone kneels to pray…

image via ehow.co.uk

Then your day has been well spent!

image via en.wikipedia.org

Blessings on your weekend,

Fromtheheartofj