Well here we are on Christmas Eve! We have a Christmas Eve tradition in our home for dinner time and my family is excitedly waiting for dinner tonight as we celebrate Christmas Eve with a fondue dinner.  Three courses of fondue, starting with a cheese fondue with bread and veggies to dip into the melted cheese, followed by a meat fondue for the main course with salad and finishing up with a chocolate fondue with plenty of fresh fruit!

 

With a Christmas Eve service at our church, we normally split our meal between the main course and the dessert course, saving the chocolate fondue for when we get home from church. (Of course that way we have more room for chocolate and fruit too!!) It’s a great way to get a sugar rush right before heading to bed! Lol!

 

One of my favourite things to do during the Christmas season is to go for a drive in the evening and look at Christmas lights. I love Christmas lights.  As I wrap up the 12 Days of Christmas series, I thought I would write about the first Christmas light – the star that caught the wise men’s attention.

 

Throughout the Bible, God uses nature to convey messages to us. For example, a rainbow as a promise to never flood the whole world again as first seen by Noah, and dew on a wool fleece but not on the surrounding ground  to show Gideon that God would save Israel.

 

The star in the sky at Christmas was used as a sign to let us know that the Son of God had come to Earth. The Messiah had been born.

 

All of nature is used to tell us about God. Psalms 19:1-3 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” No matter what language we speak or understand, in looking at the beauty and complexity of nature all around us, we can see God’s work and His glory.  Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so  that people are without excuse.” Paul is saying here in Romans, that people have no excuse for rejecting God as all of nature testifies of his existence.

 

In looking at the complexities of a flower, or even a tree, nature is speaking to us. Each part of nature has a purpose in our world and how each part fits together and works together to make earth a place where we can live is amazing.

 

Thinking about the time when Jesus was in a boat with the disciples as told in Matthew 8:23-27, Jesus spoke to the winds and the waves and they listened to him. The wind and the waves calmed down.  Only the God who created all of nature could do something like that.

 

From the rainbow in Genesis right through to the prophecies about what will happen in nature in Revelation, God uses nature to get our attention. The star that was the first Christmas light, was meant to get our attention as well.  As you prepare to celebrate Christmas tomorrow, remember the real reason why we celebrate.  Jesus came to earth to redeem us through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

 

Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas!

 

The eve of Christmas Eve! It’s finally the week of Christmas! So exciting!  As I finish up last minute preparations for the holidays this week, I am so looking forward to spending time with my family.

These past few weeks have been a blur of activities from Christmas banquets, Christmas parties, Christmas open houses, and preparing a float for a Santa Claus parade all while trying to do all the normal day to day stuff like working, keeping up with laundry and housework, and trying to manage the schedules of two busy teenagers with our own schedules!

I love the holidays for the time it gives us as a family to spend a little extra time together, to have the opportunity to see and visit with extended family and for the break in hectic schedules!

Family and home is what I’m thinking about today.  In preparing for the holidays, a lot of time and thought goes into planning out our few days together, and as a mother, I always want my family to love what we’re doing together and for things to go well. I know I’m not alone in my feelings as a mom.

Whether we have a lot of material possessions or just a few, love can make a home out of just about anywhere for a family.

Thinking about Mary and the journey she and Joseph had to take because of the census so late in her pregnancy, I wonder about her feelings as a mother. She ended up giving birth in a stable to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  I’m sure that Mary wanted to give her son the very best.  Mother’s want the very best of everything for their children. In the midst of that stable, holding her new born son, Mary created a home as best she could for that first night as a family.  Using a manger for a crib shows us how resourceful  Mary was.

There are many families that struggle financially during the holidays, many that struggle financially all the time. Regardless of how much money you have or don’t have, you can be rich in loving your family. As wives and mothers as we love our families and do our best to provide a comfortable home for our children. It’s our attitudes that can set the tone in our homes. As much as I don’t like the statement, there is some truth in it – ‘If momma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy’.

Not sweating the big stuff, and figuring out how to be content with what we have and where we are, these are big steps towards finding peace and being able to pour out our love for our families.

With all the stress and busyness of the holidays I would like to encourage you to take a moment or two to pause and be grateful for whatever you have. Whether it’s your health, your family, a warm home, a good meal, or something else, there is always something to be thankful and grateful for. Focus on the positives and on making your home a happy place for your family.

If Mary, with her love, could make a home in a stable for the King of Kings, we can make homes filled with love for our families. A home is not about ‘stuff’,  it’s about people and our relationships with them.

I’m praying that you will have a wonderful Christmas and will be able to make time to spend with the people who mean the most to you.

Be blessed.

 

Christmas day is getting so close!  Everyone I talk to is busy making final preparations for Christmas next week. Lots of people are getting ready to gather together with family members and friends, and to feast on meals that have been planned out for quite a while.

 

It’s often easy to lose the real meaning of Christmas in all of the busyness that comes along with the holiday season. As we prepare to celebrate Christ coming to earth in flesh I am reminded of someone else who spent their life preparing the way ahead of Christ.

 

John the Baptist.

 

Before John was even conceived, Gabriel told Zechariah what John’s purpose would be. In Luke 1:16-17, Gabriel says about John, “He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” True to God’s word delivered by Gabriel, this is exactly what John did with his life.

 

As Christians, we too are called to prepare people. Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus speaks the words that have come to be known as the great commission to His disciples, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

 

We have a very similar call on our lives as Christians to what John the Baptist had on his life.

 

While John the Baptist worked in the spirit and power of Elijah, we have the Holy Spirit and his power.

 

This Christmas season that rolls around every 12 months reminds us of why we celebrate – because Jesus, God’s own son, came to earth and lived with mankind. He came to redeem us.

 

Each and every one of us who professes faith in Jesus Christ has a call to make disciples.  Fortunately we don’t have to do it on our own, Jesus is with us (see the scripture from Matthew above) and we have the power of the Holy Spirit with us as well.

 

We don’t have the luxury of time to procrastinate on our call because we don’t know how long any of us has on this earth.  While you may be here tomorrow, the person you just crossed paths with today may not be. Watching the news, I am constantly reminded of how fragile and fleeting life is. I hope we have a lot of time to tell the world about Jesus, however, there are no guarantees about how much time we have.

 

This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, I would encourage you to embrace your call as a Christian. To draw close to God, to pray for boldness and to listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He brings opportunities across your path.

 

Be blessed.

 

The Magi, or the wisemen’s part in the Christmas story is found in Matthew 2:1-12. The Magi weren’t Jewish, but they knew the prophecies concerning the Jewish Messiah. The Magi’s made the trip to Bethlehem as a result of their study of the prophecies and because they saw the star which they recognized as being the Messiah’s star.

Here we are on day 9 of the 12 days of Christmas series and as I sit here pondering the scriptures that mention the Magi and their visit to see the Messiah, I am transfixed by their commitment to studying and their commitment to set out on a trip to follow a star in the hopes of finding the Messiah.

The question that has come into my mind is, do I know the scriptures and prophecies well enough that I would recognize the signs of Christ’s second coming with the same degree of accuracy that the Magi had?

Mark 13:32 tells us that no one knows the day or hour of Christ’s second coming, but in Mark 13:28 & 29, Jesus tells us that when we see the things mentioned earlier in the same passage we will know the time is getting close. It’s so important for us to know the whole Bible for ourselves and not just bits and pieces. There’s no quick fix or crash course for really getting a solid understanding of the Bible, it takes study over time and with some effort on our parts. I’m certainly not going to put myself out there as an expert on scripture, because I don’t think that I am.  What I know of the Bible has come through my own personal study, and being a part of Bible studies at my church. I have no degree in theology from any school, or any type of formal education related to the Bible.  But I think that’s ok because the Magi didn’t have those types of credentials either.

I’m inspired by the Magi to study the Bible and the prophecies it contains.  I really think it only makes sense if someone calls themselves a Christian, then that person should know what they believe and why they believe it. It’s not enough to take another person’s word for it, or to adopt someone else’s opinion for yourself. Reading the Bible, studying it, and praying through it is the only way to gain a personal understanding of the scripture and what it contains.

I can’t imagine someone calling themselves a doctor and acting like a doctor and getting away with it if they never studied medicine for themselves. Or how about a lawyer who never studied law? Not that Christianity is a profession or an occupation, because it’s not.  It’s a life-long commitment to be in relationship with Jesus Christ.

So then, how about if I said I was Dan Wood’s wife, but I never spent any time with him, never talked to him and had no idea about any of his interests, likes or dislikes?  When I say I’m Dan Wood’s wife and people watch me interact in conversation with him, see me make his coffee just the way he likes it, or see how he acts towards me, they know I’m not making it up.  The relationship between us has been built over time (celebrating 23 years of marriage to the same guy this month!!) and through the years we’ve grown closer and our relationship has grown richer. I know Dan because I’ve spent a whole lot of time with him, I’ve studied him (because I find him fascinating!), and I pay attention to him.

In John 10:27 Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” If we’re in relationship with Jesus and call ourselves Christians, we need to spend time studying the Bible (His word). That’s how we get to know Him.

And then maybe, just maybe someday we’ll be like the Magi and be able to recognize the signs of the times and ages so that we will know for ourselves and not because someone else told us, but because we are able to match them up to His word accurately just like the Magi did.

Be blessed.

 

Please don’t ever think you’re too old to be used by God. Today is about Anna. She is briefly mentioned in Luke 2:36-38 in 3 short verses. She was 84 years old and a widow.  This passage in scripture tells us that she never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.

 

I have heard more than one senior say they can’t do this anymore or aren’t able to do that anymore and that they feel they really can’t contribute anything of ‘value’ to their community of faith any longer. I disagree.  There may be some physical limitations that come with aging, and maybe some memory lapses from time to time as well, but in no way does this render a person useless or of no value.

 

I thank God for a grandmother who prays for her family every day.  She is in her mid-eighties and is a widow. She has some physical limitations that flare up from time to time, but she still prays faithfully. I am so proud of my grandma. At my request this past February, she came to a special service at our church and gave her testimony of her involvement (by prayer) in the river rescue that my husband and I were involved in.  My grandma lives about an hour and a half away by car from me, however, that distance is nothing for the Holy Spirit.

 

My grandma being full of the Holy Spirit knew that we were in danger at the exact time that my husband and I were in the icy, fast-flowing river rescuing Megan. She didn’t know what was happening to us, but she knew we were in danger and that she needed to pray for us.  She says it was a very unusual time of praying in the Holy Spirit but that she felt that she had to pray for us immediately. She had been having a rough day physically, but thankfully, she didn’t let that stop her from praying for us.

 

The fire chief that was on the scene of the accident that night told the media the next day that it was miraculous that Dan and I weren’t swept away by the current. It was a miracle that night and my grandma was a part of that miracle through her prayers for us.

 

I asked her to come to our church and share her testimony because I felt and still feel that people need to know how important prayer is and how no matter what our age – old or young – we can help out in any situation by praying.  The effects of prayer are powerful. Never underestimate the power of prayer.

 

A friend of mine, Pastor Chuck Price has said, “As long as you’re walking on God’s earth and breathing His air, He has something for you to do.”

 

Anna’s story in just three short verses shows us exactly this. There is something for every one of us to do.

 

I hope this blesses someone today!

Simeon is one of those people in the Christmas story that many would over look. However, as I read through the Christmas story, I’m drawn to the brief mentioning of Simeon in Luke 2:25-35.

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven and before the Holy Spirit was given to believers, in Luke2:25, we read that the Holy Spirit was with Simeon, revealing things to Simeon (Luke 2:26) and moving or prompting Simeon (Luke 2:27).

 

What a precious gift we have been given in the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through these few verses about Simeon, we learn not just about Simeon, but also about how the Holy Spirit can work with us.

 

As I read Simeon’s story in these ten verses, I noticed in verse 27 it says, “Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.” That made me think – what if Simeon hadn’t acting on that prompting from the Holy Spirit – Simeon could have missed meeting Jesus that day. How many God moments do we miss when we don’t follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit in our lives – when we allow our wills and wants to be more important than God’s will and wants for us?

 

Does the way we live our lives reflect the passion we say we have for God, or do our actions (or inactions) reveal the true nature of our feelings for God?  I think it’s not so much about our words as it is about our willingness to listen to God, to listen for God and being willing and open to act when He prompts us to.

 

Lifeway Research recently released the results of a survey that was focussed on Christians in Canada. You can read about it here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2013/november/new-research-state-of-discipleship-in-canada.html.

 

What’s interesting is that 66% of the people that participated in the study agreed with the statement, “I desire to please and honour Jesus in all I do.” but by the time they got to a statement about studying the Bible, 53% say they rarely or never study the Bible. Only 3% said they do in-depth Bible study on a daily basis.

 

We are nowhere near to using the full resources of what’s available to us as Christians through the Bible and the Holy Spirit.  I didn’t need a survey to arrive at that conclusion, but the numbers are very telling. Thanks Lifeway.

 

Two-thirds of the respondents to the survey want to please and honour Jesus in all they do. What would happen if more people who profess to be Christians actually started doing in-depth Bible study on a daily basis? What would happen if more Christians started listening and being willing to act when the Holy Spirit prompts them?

 

I don’t know the exact answer to those questions, but I think more people would experience moments like Simeon did that day in the temple courts when he got to meet Jesus. I also think that daily in-depth Bible study helps Christians live Biblically based lives.

 

If you have a sincere desire to please and honour Jesus and you aren’t studying your Bible daily at the moment, please consider checking out the link on this blog for online Bible studies for women – http://www.peacewithgod.ca/online-bible-studies-for-women/. Beyond looking at that web page, I hope you’re moved to action by joining us in daily Bible study.

 

It’s not overwhelming, or a major time commitment. Most women in the group say they can get through the material in 10 to 15 minutes a day. It’s a great way to dig in to God’s Word and start a new habit of spending time with God each and every day.

 

Simeon is a great example of what a close relationship with God can look like in everyday life.

 

I hope this post helps someone today.

 

Be blessed.

Here we are, half way through the 12 days of Christmas.  Today I want to write about the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20. Two things stand out to me about the shepherds in the Christmas story.

 

First is that they were just going about their jobs, doing their everyday, same routine when God interrupted them. It is encouraging to me to know that God can connect with me anytime, anywhere, no matter what I’m doing. I don’t have to be on a spiritual retreat to hear from God, or I don’t have to be in a specific church service with a specific preacher speaking either.  In the middle of my ordinary, normal, sometimes boring life, God can speak and work.

 

Second is that God chose to announce the birth of His son to shepherds, who were considered fairly low on the social status scale in their society as opposed to the elite A-list crowd of that day. You don’t have to ‘be’ anyone ‘special’ for God to notice you or to speak to you.  This one is huge. I wish everyone would understand this point.  My husband is a pastor and he has had more than one person come to him over the years asking him what God is telling him that they should be doing about something in their lives. For real. People think that pastors, spiritual, or religious people have an ‘in’ with ‘the big guy’.

 

My husband spends a lot of time in prayer and studying the bible.  He’s blessed with the opportunity to spend a lot of time doing those things.  What I love is when he tells me that God spoke something into his heart while doing things like, cutting the grass or driving his motorcycle, or walking to pick up the mail. God is in the everyday, normal, sometimes boring things that are a part of our lives.

 

It’s the same for me too. Over the course of my life so far, my personal encounters with God have most often happened in the middle of doing some normal things like laundry, or shovelling snow off a driveway or rocking a crying baby late at night.

 

You don’t have to be somebody important in society, or be doing some ultra-religious task to hear from God.  But when He speaks, I hope you’re listening.

 

The shepherds heard the message delivered to them by angels and then they hurried off to find Mary and Joseph and Jesus. They were moved to action by the message from God. I guess that’s the third thing that’s standing out to me about the shepherds.  Ordinary guys, doing their ordinary normal thing, who were moved to action when they heard the message from God.

 

Listen for God in your life. You’ll never know when He’s about to prompt your heart or whisper something to you. I’m glad the shepherds heard the message that was meant for them that night and am happy for the blessing they received being some of the first to meet Jesus in person. You just never know what God has in store for your life each day.

 

So stick with the ordinary, everyday, normal things that are a part of your life, no matter if you’re a somebody, or if you think you’re a nobody.  Every person is important to God and if we’ll listen, He will speak into our lives too.

 

Be blessed.