Joy to you all at Christmas! I finally heard the sermon this morning before work…on my way now. My family are at the beach in Mexico & I’m working all weekend, but Praise God for time with Him & the chance to take His light into other homes. I pray that is what I can do…take His light & love & compassion. Its been so busy at work I’ve been a bit burned out, but the Lord refreshes me each day. I loved the sermon. Yes, may I truly receive that God desires to make His home in me! Oh Jesus, open the eyes of my heart & be born again in me today. Susan: I also have LONGED for my family & husband to go to church with me at Christmas. It’s hard, & I pray that the Lord will fill u & lead u & draw your family to Himself. I hope to go to a Christmas Eve service after work today & then to friend’s home . Love to u all. He is with us…Immanuel 🙂
Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!!!!! 😀
My takeaway: In Christ grace and power to live as Christ called us to, get married! I just began reading the book Union With Christ. Rankin Wibourne articulates so well what I have pondered in my heart for many years! My young Christian life began very works-focused (and largely miserable!) Then, about 7 years ago, I really began to understand grace (there is nothing I can do or not do to make God love me any more and nothing I can do or not do to make Him love me any less…He loves me because of Christ’s finished work on the cross and my operative word was REST!) I think for me, grace was what my weary soul truly needed and it never felt like an excuse to sin. However, I could see that in some settings Christians were almost using grace as a reason to not “press on to the high calling of Christ.” Rankin talks about the fact that the only way these two concepts (grace and living a set-apart life that Christ calls us to) can both have the “volume turned 100%” is through union with Christ. When the Word became flesh and later died for our sin, this union became possible!
Merry Christmas everyone! May our Lord Jesus who IS our Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace be with all of us. Many of us celebrate Christmas with hidden sorrow in our hearts over fractured relationships, health problems, loved ones far away from God….and much more He knows, He understands, and He has not left us alone.
Merry Christmas all, whatever you circumstances – whether the day is busy or quiet, happy or bittersweet. It is my first Christmas without my Dad (Mom has been gone for 9 years) and with a son in Kuwait, but we just spent the better part of an hour on “Google Hangouts” in a 3-way video chat with my Kuwait son, and with his family (2 young sons, a wife, and in-laws) in Nova Scotia while they opened Christmas stockings. Thank you, God, for amazing technology and tech savvy kids! Now going off to church! I find it lovely for Christmas to arrive on Sunday!
Hugs to you all here on Dee’s blog! May the peace of God rest on you!
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Joy to you all at Christmas! I finally heard the sermon this morning before work…on my way now. My family are at the beach in Mexico & I’m working all weekend, but Praise God for time with Him & the chance to take His light into other homes. I pray that is what I can do…take His light & love & compassion. Its been so busy at work I’ve been a bit burned out, but the Lord refreshes me each day. I loved the sermon. Yes, may I truly receive that God desires to make His home in me! Oh Jesus, open the eyes of my heart & be born again in me today. Susan: I also have LONGED for my family & husband to go to church with me at Christmas. It’s hard, & I pray that the Lord will fill u & lead u & draw your family to Himself. I hope to go to a Christmas Eve service after work today & then to friend’s home . Love to u all. He is with us…Immanuel 🙂
Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!!!!! 😀
My takeaway: In Christ grace and power to live as Christ called us to, get married! I just began reading the book Union With Christ. Rankin Wibourne articulates so well what I have pondered in my heart for many years! My young Christian life began very works-focused (and largely miserable!) Then, about 7 years ago, I really began to understand grace (there is nothing I can do or not do to make God love me any more and nothing I can do or not do to make Him love me any less…He loves me because of Christ’s finished work on the cross and my operative word was REST!) I think for me, grace was what my weary soul truly needed and it never felt like an excuse to sin. However, I could see that in some settings Christians were almost using grace as a reason to not “press on to the high calling of Christ.” Rankin talks about the fact that the only way these two concepts (grace and living a set-apart life that Christ calls us to) can both have the “volume turned 100%” is through union with Christ. When the Word became flesh and later died for our sin, this union became possible!
Mary — so glad you are reading it and liking it!
Yes — Merry Christmas Eve to all!
Merry Christmas Eve!!
Merry Christmas everyone! May our Lord Jesus who IS our Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace be with all of us. Many of us celebrate Christmas with hidden sorrow in our hearts over fractured relationships, health problems, loved ones far away from God….and much more He knows, He understands, and He has not left us alone.
Merry Christmas all, whatever you circumstances – whether the day is busy or quiet, happy or bittersweet. It is my first Christmas without my Dad (Mom has been gone for 9 years) and with a son in Kuwait, but we just spent the better part of an hour on “Google Hangouts” in a 3-way video chat with my Kuwait son, and with his family (2 young sons, a wife, and in-laws) in Nova Scotia while they opened Christmas stockings. Thank you, God, for amazing technology and tech savvy kids! Now going off to church! I find it lovely for Christmas to arrive on Sunday!
Hugs to you all here on Dee’s blog! May the peace of God rest on you!
Diane–thinking especially of you with your son so far away–blessings to all of you!
Thanks, Lizzy. We are doing fine.
upcoming bible study I read in the blog
Hoping for the 3 week study I missed due to illness.