The Wonder of Christmas

I don't have many readers out there but to those who do, I pray you have a most blessed Christmas. I also pray that you would have a revelation of the Wonder of the season and be amazed as you see the miracles happening all around you. Jesus didn't come as a baby born in a manager so we could simply celebrate Christmas with family, and loved ones. Though celebrating together is one of the great blessings we enjoy because of Christmas, we do good to be reminded of the greater purposes for his coming. During this season why not take time to consider: why did the angles come to the shepherds of all people? Why Elizabeth in her old age, and Mary who was just a girl and why Joseph? Why a manager in Bethlehem? Why wise men and Herod? What was their purpose? Doesn't it amaze you that God put all of this together at just the right time and just the right place? What a Wonder He is! It was a miracle that a child born to a virgin. If a child can be born of God to a virgin then certainly God can to anything. For he tells us in his word that for God all things are possible. Does that not encourage you and make you want to shout for joy. "Joy to the world the LORD has come" He is the God of possibilities! We can trust Him for a miracle in our lives. He is God of creation and God of all glory. He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace! (Isa 9). Worship Him this Christmas and stand in awe of His wonder!

Have a Blessed Christmas and a Year of New Beginnings!
Joan

Contemplating God

A friend of mine has a friend who just lost his 16 year old son. He never woke up in the morning. Died sometime during the night. I cannot wrap my mind around that. I can't begin to understand the pain his parents are dealing with as they experience grief so profound and unbearable. I have heard people say that God understands this because He also lost his son to a cruel death by the hands of the people He was trying to save. I find that somewhat comforting. But I also find myself thinking "but He is God" and yes he lost His son but he knew the outcome and that his death was only temporary. What do you say to father that asks you "is my child in heaven?" "Will I see him again?" Sometimes we don't know the outcome. We just don't have the priveledge of knowing what God knows. We know God's word. We know that he says all who believe will be saved...and those who don't will be condemned. We understand that God is loving and we know that he is just. How do we reconcile it all and how do we minister to those who grieve without knowing or without hope.

God asks us to trust him and reminds us that he gives beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for those who mourn. We know that he is good and he is kind and desires that no one leave this earth without coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. God's words tells us that Jesus searched everywhere until he found the one lost sheep. He didn't give up and when the lost was found he carried the lamb home in his arms. We may not know the outcome of a loved ones life. But we can know that God will give them every opportunity; that his love is even greater than our own and that he will not give up on them; he will seek them out even to the very end with a heart that desires to carry them home. As the song Leeland sings says: He carries them to the table of the Lord.

Our job is to allow these kinds of situations to wake us up to the importance of sharing the message of the gospel with the people he has put in our lives. Our job is to trust God enough to step out in faith and believe that the people around us want what we have....they just don't know it. When death comes knocking at their door will you be the one they turn to for answers? When difficulties come are you the one they seek out to ask for prayer?

God's word says it's a race we are running and for some is it over quicker than for others. The idea is to get as many to the finish line to receive the prize as possible. It doesn't matter who finishes when. It matters how we run the race. Am I taking time to help the one who is lagging behind or encouraging the one who has given up. Am I so concerned about my own race that I have ignored the one who is watching me run and doesn't know how to get in the race? Will I stop long enough to help them? What is God saying to you? How will you respond when difficult questions arise? Will you become discouraged and faithless or will you respond with faith and trust that God is who he says he is and will do what he has said in his word that he will do. He IS faithful and we CAN trust him.

Off to Arizona

I'm off to Arizona tomorrow and excited about seeing my sisters Mardi and Carol. I seem to have developed a cold though and I'm afraid the plane flight will be difficult. I am really looking forward to basking in the sun by the pool and enjoying the warmth!

This will be a difficult trip in some ways. Tomorrow is dad's birthday and in the past I would be going to Phoenix to see him and celebrate our birthday's together. It will be strange to be there and know he's not. It reminds me how much I miss both him and my mom.

It also reminds me how important it is to remember our history and to celebrate our future. I was so blessed this weekend to attend the baby shower for Melissa and Brian. It was so much fun to see all the beautiful little girl things and so different from what we have been use to. I also got to see Parker and Kent and Erik and Bethany on Saturday which was so much fun (except for when Parker choked on his hot dog which really scared us)

I look at Parker and Kent and I am amazed at how they are growing and becoming little boys who are creative and inquizative and so full of curiosity. It causes me to appreciate even more God's intricate design of creation. And then to consider the tiny little girl that Melissa is carrying. How amazing! We are all so anxious to see this precious gift from God.

Thanksgiving is next week (already!). I look forward to spending time with family and making special memories. I hope we can really grasp how important family is and how important it is that we do life together.

To Erik Brian and Michael, I love you and am so proud of each of you.
To Bethany and Melissa, I couldn't be more blessed to have you a part of our family.
To Parker, Kent and baby girl. What gifts you are! I look forward to seeing all of the ways God is going to use you.
To my friends, thank you for your friendship, your love, your prayers and for all the ways you bless me.

OK I found it!

Children's Children

Aren't these just the cutest boys you've ever seen. I am going on Saturday to see Parker's school and his art work. I am very excited and can't wait to see what he has been doing.

With Melissa and now Kecia both having babies our family is really growing. Melissa is now six months along and beginning to feel the baby move. It is so strang to think of my children having children. I know they will all be fabulous parents! There are so many wonderful resources out now that they can refer to for help. I do know though that now more than ever they will need the support of family and friends. The world is crazy today and there are so many unbelievable dangers out there and things to be aware of uless we purpose to help and support each other it will be a difficult road. So Bethany and Melissa and Kecia and even you Krista (and the rest of you) I want you to know that I am praying for you all and if you ever need anything from me I'd be happy to help out as much as I can. You are all important to me. Your generation has been bombarded with every form of evil. But I believe it is also being positioned to be instrumental in advancing the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. So know that you aren't alone and there is an amry that has gone before you and one that is behind you and we are doing this thing called life together.

( Iwanted to put in the picture of Melissa and Brian and their pregnant bellies but I can't pull it up)

Your Destiny

I love this song from Dennis Jernigan. It is my prayer for each of you and my grandchildren that you would know who you are in Christ Jesus. Be blessed by the words

All I was I lay aside now dead to sin, to God alive!
Born again into a new identity!
Once asleep to God in sin, now wakened by the blood and cleansed!
Born again to be who he called me to be!
All I have I lay aside, run the race to gain the prize
For the sake of knowing Jesus Christ in me!
I cannot yet fully see all I'm truly called to be,
Knowing Christ reveals my hope and destiny!

He call me child! he calls me to his side eternally!
He calls what once was lost now found, once bound to sin--now free!
He calls me holy! Calls me righteous! By the blood redeemed!
He calls overcomer, crowned with victory!
This is my destiny!

What once bound me is no more! What was stolen is restored
By the resurrection power of my King!
What was old has been made new; lies and doubts replaced by truth!
What was silent now resounds, "I am redeemed!"

He calls me servant, calls me warrior,
Calls me royalty!
He calls me resurrected one! He calls me his redeemed!
He calls me higher, calls me far beyond my wildest dream!
He call my heart to come and be allhe can see!
This is my destiny!

He calls me chosen! New creation! Trophy of his grace!
He gives me strength to fight and run to win the race!
He tells me he delights in me while singing over me,
Accepting me as his beloved bride-to-be! This is my destiny!
This is (your) destiny!

Another Grandma!

Congratulations to Kecia and Kevin. I am so excited for the two of you! I will always be amazed at the thought of a tiny baby growing in a mother's womb. It is such a beautiful miracle from God that brings so much joy in so many different ways. And congratulations to the new grandma and grandpa! At last I have someone to share the joy of grandmahood with! You will be so blessed.
Thinking of grandchildren makes me think of how God in His wisdom created us to be creative people. God created human life and then life was passed on from one generation to the next through creation. As grandpartents we have the opportunity to see the creations God gifted us with (our children) create again and to pass on our legacy of faith in God to them. It is an opportunity to watch the creativeness of God at work as our children turn into parents and as our grandchildren take on the likeness of their creator. We can stand back and watch with wisdom and amazement and know how to pray.
Because we who believe in Jesus have his Spirit in us we also have His creativity. Ask Jesus how you can use that creativity today to bless someone else. Who needs to be encouraged today? Who needs a hug or a smile? Who needs someone to simply acknowledge they are there? Let's run our races creatively!
Stay focused and run hard but be sure to take others with you.

House of Prayer

At our prayer time last night we were discussing Jesus' words "My house will be a house of prayer". So often we think of that phrase as referring to a physical place of worship (ie our church). But doesn't Jesus also say that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? We therefore, are ourselves "temples" or churches. Since Jesus came and was the final sacrifice we no longer need the physical temple to offer sacrifices or to go to for prayer. We have the Holy Spirit in us and our lives become a sacrifice of worship to God everyday. Since we are a temple then we should also be a "house of prayer". Our lives should not be filled with the things of the world that distract us from our real purpose of abiding with Christ and seeking to advance his kingdom. Paul say we should be continually in an attitude of prayer ready to intercede or pray for any situation that comes our way. I am a firm believer in the power of corporate, unified prayer. Amazing things happen when the Body of Christ gathers to intercede. But I also believe that if we are not a house of prayer ourselves (first), we will not see that power manifested when we come together.
So today ask God how you can become a "house of prayer". He wants to spend time with you and to encourage you and strengthen you so that like the priests you can go and meet with God and then go out to bless the people he has placed in your life who need Jesus.

So run your race today with purpose in every step and be a blessing!

On another note, Erik has a great video on his blog. Check it out at erik.scottberg@blogspot.com
You can also see great videos and pictures (better than the above) of my grandchildren at bethany.scottberg@blogspot.com
Enjoy!

Today

Today work has been very slow. Not a good thing. I like it when I am busy and have a lot to do. The time goes much faster and I feel like I am accomplishing something. I prayed this morning that God would fill me with his Spirit and anoint me to do what he needs me to do today. Sometimes I wonder if he is using me at all. In my head I know that God can use us even if we don't see it but my heart says "where is the fruit". Did I impact my workplace or the people around me in any way today? Are their lives any different because we came in contact? Do they see Jesus in me or do they just see Joan?

I went to a Joyce Meyer conference this weekend. Of course it was exciting and fun and impacted us spiritually. We all came home wanting to hold onto the words and the encouragement to press on and to be passionate about being about our Father's business. All of us wanted to do more and be more passionate about serving Jesus and advancing the Kingdom of God. Funny how it begins to fade. TD Jakes warned us it would. But he also said God wants to do a "thing" in our life. Something so "God" that others will stand back and be amazed. Somethng so profound that it is just a "thing" and it can't be described. It's a God thing, built on God's will and his heart for his people. I want to determine to find that one thing to be passionate about and go at it with all my heart. I will share what He's talking to be about later when he gives me a bigger picture. I hope you will join me and that we can make it our adventure together.

Run The Race Together

Earlier in the year I started sending out letters to my daughters-in-law and my nieces. Since we all live so far apart, I thought it would be a good way to stay in touch and pass on to them some of the things God has taught me throughout my life. I believe God wants us to live life together in community, praying for each other, and helping and encouraging each other along the way. For instance, when Bethany says she is sick I want to be there for her. I know that I can't always do that, but I can pray and I can encourage her and hopefully another part of the body can be there instead. This of course requires that we reach out to each other. Bethany has to let us know she's sick and we have to be willing to call, to go over, bring a meal or to pray. Community takes time and it takes a willingness on our part to be open to each other and at times vunerable.

My meager attempts to send out those letter didn't last long and I got busy and stopped doing it. So much for commitment. I am hoping this will work out better and I hope some of you will find a bit of encouragement to continue in the race and not give up. Like any of us I need encouragement. So let me know if you are reading and let me know your thoughts. Let's run the race together and keep our eyes on the prize that God has set before us. We each are responsible for our own race and in the end we will stand alone before God but in the mean time let's be each others best cheerleaders and be willing to offer a cup of cold water along the way.
Be blessed today and run hard.

Running the Race

Months ago I started sending out a letter to my nieces in an effort to share with them some of the things God has