THE LIST

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For this week’s LIST I would love for you to hop on over to a new website that I’m a part of…

iBelieve is a brand spankin’ new site for 20/30 somethings so you can only imagine how excited I was when they asked me to be a part of the team. There are all kinds of articles on the site about faith, relationships, health and fashion and it is constantly being updated. I know you will love it as much as I do. I decided it would be fun to incorporate this week’s LIST in to the article I wrote for iBelieve.

Here is a little snippet of a Christmas article I wrote for them…

The room was filled to the brim with nativity scenes. As I sat at my table at a charity luncheon, I absorbed it all with awe and wonder as sweet ladies delicately displayed their priceless family heirlooms. I took in the meticulously painted ceramic nativities and adored the decadently decorated scenes. But the one I loved the most (a hit with everyone, in fact) was the little nativity crafted by an eight year old boy who used pipe cleaners. You can imagine how that particular one warmed each of our hearts as we imagined a sweet young boy with impressive creativity.

I love how our Lord allows us a peek into the real life scene of the birth of our savior, Jesus. Something in particular stands out to me with in the first chapter of the book of Matthew. An angel appeared to Joseph and announced such an endearing fact about the upcoming birth.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means God with us). Matthew 1:23 ESV

The very King of Kings and Creator of the universe would become God with us. Our God did not chose to stay in heaven on His mighty throne to rule over us from a distance. But rather, He sent His son Jesus to be with us, to forgive us and to bring us closer to the Father. The fact that He chose to orchestrate this miraculous birth among humble and even common folk further reminds us that God means what He says that His son Jesus would be “God with us.” As Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the lowly sheep, the kingly wise men and even the angels took their place in a scene that would forever change the landscape of history, we too have our part in the Nativity.

Will you step into that scene over 2000 years ago in ancient Israel this Christmas season?

 

READ the rest of the article by clicking HERE…

Then come back and list what role in the Nativity you will take TODAY.

Left Up To My Own Devices

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When left up to my own devices, I’m one wretched chick I tell ya.

                                                              Source: via Sarah on Pinterest

 

This past week I was sick in bed with the flu. Not cute. All I wanted to do was lay there and eat cookies (cause that’s the only thing I could stomach). I guess I felt like my Bible was too heavy and I didn’t have the strength to heft it up in my bed and crack it open. Boy am I feeling the effects now.

Every good, nice and beautiful thing about me is all because of Jesus.

I see that now. When left up to my own devices, my own thoughts, my own emotions I am grumpy and mean.

But thank goodness He is ready and willing to pour His love, mercy, grace, kindness, goodness and joy to fill in the gap where my heart is depleted…left up to my own devices.

Here’s where things turn around for me. Putting aside my own devices, I open up to the Holy Spirit. Yes, the very King of Kings has a place in my heart. I just have to clean out all the muck and junk in there to make room for more and more and more of Him.

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? James 4:5 ESV

God desires to pour out Himself into our lives, our wretched hearts. An abundance of His presence awaits us. As it says in Scripture, every good gift is from above. For me, I might be tempted to wallow in my anger, frustration and grumpy thoughts because it feels more comfortable that way right in this moment. But I love what it says above, the Lord is jealous over our heart when we aren’t submitted to His Spirit. He sees what we are missing out on when we fail to let Him reign.

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

You mean even though I’ve wallowed in wretch, He is waiting with more and more grace? Yes…but only if I’m willing to dump my pride, ask for forgiveness and place myself in a humble position to accept that grace.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8

I’m wondering if you’ve ever felt too wretched, like I have, to even imagine that you could draw near to God. I’m wondering if you feel like you have too much to be sorry for, too much junk in your past, too much ugly in your heart to even be allowed in His presence. This promise above should knock out all of that intimidation.

Do you notice what comes first? God doesn’t tell us to clean ourselves up, put on a nice outfit and make ourselves presentable before we draw near to Him. NO! He declares that when we FIRST draw near to Him, with open arms He draws near to us. Our wretched hearts are no put-off to Him. It is then that we are washed and made new in His presence because Jesus makes us clean.

Today I’m soaking in this truth. I don’t want to be that wretched chick filled with not nice thoughts in my head and not cute feelings in my heart for I know who I am when Jesus fills me up. I know how He uses me in His grand plans to His glory when I am willing and open to His Spirit and His abundance of joy and love in my heart.

May we not miss out on that glory.

Let’s chat…leave a comment!

THE LIST: Christmas Songs List

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For this week’s LIVE IT OUT! List  I’d like to introduce you to my friend Becky Bernier. Becky is a avid runner (which I admire greatly) and she is working for Operation Christmas Child this Christmas season. Check out her blog: Becky’s World.

Becky emailed me with this super fun list for the week: Top Five Favorite Christmas Songs.

Here’s her list:

Top Five Holiday Songs:

5. White Christmas – Bing Crosby of course! His voice makes me want to curl up in a warm blanket by a fire with a cup of hot cider or cocoa.

4. Baby It’s Cold Outside – This is just a fun song!

3. Sleigh Ride – Every time I hear this song, I want to be in the mountains with lots of snow falling and riding in a sleigh pulled by horses.

2. Little Drummer Boy (Jars of Clay version) – I could listen to this version over and over.

1. All I want for Christmas is You – This song makes me happy every time I hear it! I love to dance around the room when I hear it!

Now it’s your turn…list out your top Christmas songs or hymns!