The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,900 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
I’m continuing my ABC’s for Christian Living, and what better subject than forgiveness as we get to the close of this year and the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. We probably have things we want to forgive ourselves for, things we would like to ask forgiveness for, and maybe we have somebody we need to forgive.
Jesus gave the ultimate example of forgiveness on the Cross, when he asked the Father to forgive those that were brutally hanging him on the tree.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats (see 1 Peter 2:21-23).
He taught us to pray: “Father forgive us… as we forgive.”
Here is a serious word to consider: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14)
How many times should we forgive? Peter asked Jesus that question. Would seven times be enough? No, 70×7! In other words, don’t keep track. Just forgive!
Here is another serious word to consider: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25).
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).
We are to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).
Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note — torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one (Henry Ward Beecher). As Norman Cousins says, “Life is an adventure in forgiveness.” No better way to start the adventure of the new year than practicing forgiveness!
I read an article in Guideposts about a woman who each year chooses a word to live by. Let’s make FORGIVENESS the word to live by not only in 2012, but always!
Click here for quotes on FORGIVENESS.
I’ve started my Bible reading plan for 2012. Nothing like getting head start! My son-in-law suggested it to me some days ago and we decided to give it a try. With this plan you get a steady feeding of the Word daily.
Professor Grant Horner is the man behind the plan. He has divided the books of the Bible into Ten Lists, so you read one chapter a day from each of the lists, and when you have completed the readings in one of the lists, you just start over.
To get more information about this plan I googled “Grant Horner’s Bible Reading Plan” and checked some of the web sites that came up.
Here is a link that will take to the basic information: Bible Reading Plan
We need to feed more on the Word, and this system will help us be more focused. Ten chapters a day is the challenge! Do you want to take it with me?
The link I’m giving you has the basic information and even a sheet to make the ten bookmarks you will need.
I’ve been praying for a pastor God put on my heart, that he would dig deeper into the Word. God has turned the prayers around to my own life, so that I will dig deeper into the Word.
Come with me on this new and exciting journey I’m taking in 2012!
I got off to a good start today. I hope you will, too!
Early this morning I was reminded through the Word of God on how important it is to rejoice and be thankful even in the midst of pain and sorrow. Praise elevates us above our circumstances. The LORD is holy, “enthroned in the praises” of his people (see Psalm 22:3, NKJV).
Let me share some of the Scriptures I feasted on at day-break. It’s very easy to dwell on the negative, but to be happy in Jesus we have to adopt the attitude described by the prophet Habakkuk:
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior
(Habakkuk 3:17-18).
In Isaiah 61:1-3, we read that Jesus came to preach good news to the poor, which I don’t think has anything to do with what we consider “poor” (lack of finances). Anybody that doesn’t have a close relationship with God is poor. For them is the Good News!
Jesus also came to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, to comfort all who mourn, to bestow…
We are admonished by the Apostle Paul to be glad, to rejoice.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
This is God’s will in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
I hope our hearts have rejoiced this past Christmas-time in remembering the reason we celebrate the Season. Here are two more encouraging words:
“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19-20).
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
If you’re like me, you send up many prayers to Heaven. Now, let’s fill the courts of Heaven with praise and thanksgiving.
Maybe you have some problems to deal with. Don’t we all? Like me, you might wish your body was young and healthy, and that you could move around as you used to, but the years take its toll.
According to my grandchildren I am an OLD lady. In my heart I feel young and vibrant. My body doesn’t cooperate with what my heart feels. This is where praise and thanksgiving plays a major role. We can grow stronger and healthier in our spirit and soul daily by praise and thanksgiving. Our body is just a shell, and even if it would be nice to have a “shell” that worked perfectly until we are called Home, sometimes it doesn’t.
I’m hoping to continue into the new year with a mindset of praise. I have an idea. How about finding at least one new thing every day to be thankful for? To keep track of it, just write it on a calendar. A Calendar of Praise!
When thanksgiving fills our heart the presence of the Lord is near. Walk happily through every day with the joy of the Lord as a guiding star.
Make every new day one of Thanksgiving! Fill a calendar with reasons to praise God.
Preparations. Anticipation. Excitement. All of it leading up to the yearly celebration of the birth of our Savior. We had what I would call a “quiet” celebration. We read the Christmas story and had the gift-giving on Christmas Eve. That way we could concentrate on going to church on Christmas day. The kids behaved. Now we have a week of Christmas break ahead of us. I will be staying with them, doing some baby-sitting so their mom can get some of her weekly work done.
With the children surrounding me, talking “miles” an hour, I have not been able to pick up inspiration for writing. I guess it will come back as things get back to normal.
I will have a little picture show of the youngest, Sarah, three going on four. She showed big signs of being an organized person.
What did this little girl do? She stacked her presents! While her siblings were excitedly opening their presents, she was busy stacking! “Look, I stacked mine!” she said. Her favorite present on the top–a Veggie Tales Bible Story Book. “And I have my own Bible!”
So, life goes on! I hope I will feel more inspired tomorrow.
I saved the best for last. The greatest and best gift of them all is our precious Savior, the reason we celebrate this joyous occasion. Jesus came to earth to be our Savior and Lord!
This year we will do the Swedish tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day we will celebrate at church; my daughter is singing in a cantata. We had a little pre-Christmas yesterday evening, which really was a birthday party for my son-in-law. Can you picture three families, each with four children, getting together and surviving! One of the families was with the kid’s cousins, and there was exchange of presents.
I’ve been given an early present by my grandson David, one that I deeply cherish. It’s a plastic plaque with the inscription: “God sent the Savior for David and Grandma KL.” And then there are stick figures of both of us. That is my message for today. God sent the Savior for you and me!
Jesus
Christ
Messiah
Immanuel
Mighty God
Lord of Lords
King of Kings
Prince of Peace
Alpha and Omega
Everlasting Father
Wonderful Counselor
The Way
The Truth
The Life
Our Soon Coming King!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” How many times have you sang it (or is it “sung”)? It is joy, upon joy! I have everything in my head that I want to write about, but there are two girls with me that are my “joy” but will not keep quiet. I arrived at my daughter’s last night, to the kid’s delight. And now they don’t want to leave me alone. What do they understand about blogs? The only thing they want is to spend time with their grandmother.
I was sad the other day when I visited a friend in a rehab center and she was sad because she had not felt the presence of the Lord in 16 month! I have been thinking and praying about that. I cannot even imagine such a sad thing. Then the Lord reminded me of praise and rejoicing. We can be so wrapped up in our sad circumstances that we miss out on the sweet presence of the Lord. However sad our physical conditions are we need to find things to praise the Lord for. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” is something we can always rejoice over.
This afternoon I’m going shopping with my son-in-law! That sounds fun, doesn’t it? I’m not really going shopping with him; I’m going with him to watch the kids while they do shopping for each other. Then we are picking up a sweatshirt for me at JCPenney.
A couple of weeks ago I bought me a sweatshirt in Tulsa. It was one size too small but I figured I’d take it to Springfield and exchange it. I needed to buy it because of a $10 discount certificate. In Springfield they had only a few left, and not my size. Then I found out something I should have known all along. I could have asked them to order it on-line for me. I got the same discount price, so I’m not even paying eight dollars for it. And guess where I’m picking it up? In Muskogee, Oklahoma! Talk about something to be joyful about? From Tulsa, to Springfield, to Muskogee! And all in time for Christmas! You guessed it. Its’ a red sweatshirt!
I have a special blog planned to write about JOY, but it will have to wait for “next year”! Now my joy is with my grandchildren, and I will let them have the gift of enJOYing their grandmother even if she would like to have a little peace and quiet to write a long blog. Maybe you’re happy that they are being noisy; that way you don’t have to read a long blog!
I wish you the JOY of the Lord not only for Christmas but every day. Even when things go wrong, when your body shows signs of wanting to shut down, when you don’t get all your wants, PTLA (praise the Lord anyway)!
Here is a verse I want to use as inspiration for my wish for you:
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)
This Christmas, may gladness and JOY overtake you!
On Christmas God gave his biggest show of love—He gave himself! We’ll talk more about that on Christmas day. This is a “short” reminder of the greatest gifts of all: LOVE.
Today I have to make my choice of words short. I need to cramp two days of activities into one. I was planning on traveling tomorrow but to beat the much colder weather tomorrow, I have to travel today. Bundle up, you might say. I wish it was that easy! The colder it gets the stiffer and more painful my feet and legs… so I’m going to get busy packing, washing, having the oil changed in my car, picking up a present someone came to deliver yesterday (I was visiting a friend in a rehab center), cleaning up (I hate to come home to a messy house), etc. So I better get going with my To-Do-List for today.
While writing I got a phone call. Now I have to leave today! My daughter needs my crock-pot. She’s having a party for her husband’s birthday tomorrow, and the crock-pot is very much needed (that make me feel needed!). “Daughter, here comes the crock-pot wrapped in love!”
Let me just remind you of some beautiful things about love.
Love is…
kind
compassionate
forgiving
generous
helpful
respectful
considerate
joyful
positive
graceful
The list can go on and on. I just mentioned some things that can make Christmas more delightful. Let’s rejoice in God’s love for us and let’s show his love by being very loving to those around us. I don’t think there is a better gift we can give anybody, but love. Because love wraps up everything! The greatest of all is LOVE!
(The “potato-heart” is from my brother-in-law Ola’s crop. Isn’t it great?)
I’m excited about this wonderful gift—the Gift of Hope. We sometimes say that the last thing we should give up is hope. I would venture to say that we should never give up hope, especially if we have put our faith in God. Whatever your circumstances, how dark life might seem, there will always be a ray of hope.
Let me give you some gold nuggets of HOPE before we exit with a crescendo that will reverberate through eternity.
Hope: No one whose hope is in [God] will ever be put to shame.
Hope: My hope is in [God] all day long.
Hope: We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Hope: Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Hope: The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Now we come to the best part—the Hope that no one can take away from us. If you have Christ in you, then you have the Hope of Glory. The apostle Paul calls it the Blessed Hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
However dark the clouds loom on the horizon; when things look the way they are, going from bad to worse, we can look up and “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
What is our Blessed Hope? Jesus is coming back! He is preparing room for us in heaven. As he said to his first disciples, in his Father’s house there are many mansions, and he went there to prepare us room.
“Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
What an incredible gift! So, my dear friend, “Be joyful in hope.”
God makes a promise
Faith believes it
Hope anticipates it
Patience quietly awaits it
Rejoice in the HOPE that Jesus is coming back soon!
(Scriptures: Psalm 25:3,5; 33:20; 62:5-6; 147:11; Proverbs 13:12; Col 1:27; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 10:23; 1 John 3:3; Romans 12:12.)
