What is our Christmas Present to Jesus?

By Author Unknown

When Jesus called that Christmas week I wasn't at my best,
And the house was much too cluttered to entertain a guest.
He seemed to notice everything: the cards still unaddressed,
The gifts piled high awaiting wraps, the baking and the rest.
His eyes fell on the evergreen and the presents 'neath the tree.
"It's My birthday that you celebrate - what are you giving Me?"

"What am I giving Him?" I thought. Ashamed, no words I found.
So many costly things I'd bought. He looked at me and frowned.
I prayed He'd let the question pass, but when He did persist,
I blurted out the truth at last, "You were not on my list."

Is Jesus on our list this Christmas? What special gift are we giving to Jesus this Christmas? We all know the pleasure of finding the right present for our husband and wife, for our children, a good friend, a parent, grandchildren. What special gift are we giving to Jesus this year to honor His birth? And what do we expect from God? God sent Jesus from heaven to earth to give us human beings what we really needed most in life: hearts filled with love.

That is the gift which Jesus expects, and that is what you and I need from God this Christmas - a heart filled with love. We have tons of wants. We are like children with a catalogue before Christmas, circling all our wants by the dozens. But we have one essential need: a heart filled with love. God wants to give each of us a heart filled with love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness on this Christmas and every day of our lives.

Psalm 100

All Men Exhorted to Praise God. A Psalm for Thanksgiving.

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Your Cold Has Grown Love

You had a bad cold all weekend - fever coupled with coughing, sneezing and wheezing. Mommy and I were really concerned.

The other thing you had all weekend is...A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. Not just small, occasional smirks in the midst of irks, but miles of unrelenting smiles! We spent three days taking tender care of you, but you made it a wonderful joy.

I love you.

Daddy

The Words of Jesus Christ

CLICK HERE to read all the spoken words of Jesus Christ from each of the four New Testament Gospel accounts.

The Imitation of Christ

By Thomas a Kempis

CLICK HERE to read it online.

Two Routes

Excerpt of comment by Neil Booth in "My Hidden Life" (on his blog site "Pass the Toast"):

"It seems to me that there are two routes open to us as Christians who want to live holy, God-pleasing lives. One is to draw up a set of rules for holy living (or borrow an existing set) and keep tweaking them and adding to them and refining them and above all making sure we don’t break them. But Paul says that that is going back into the slavery from [which] Christ has freed us! The second is to be so wrapped up in Jesus, so devoted to him, having our minds so set on him, that we just do what pleases God without there being any “must” or “musn’t” about our response to people, places, situations and circumstances. Sadly, however, because we find it difficult to enter and to maintain this oneness with Christ, we resort to the moral and ethical rule book to do by law what we should be doing out of love."

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8 NIV

Hidden Workers

By George Matheson

"John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true" (John 10:41)

You may be very discontented with yourself. You are no genius, have no brilliant gifts, and are inconspicuous for any special faculty. Mediocrity is the law of your existence. Your days are remarkable for nothing but sameness and insipidity. Yet you may live a great life. John did no miracle, but Jesus said that among those born of women there had not appeared a greater than he.

John's main business was to bear witness to the Light, and this may be yours and mine. John was content to be only a voice, if men would think of Christ.

Be willing to be only a voice, heard but not seen; a mirror whose surface is lost to view, because it reflects the dazzling glory of the sun; a breeze that springs up just before daylight, and says, "The dawn! the dawn!" and then dies away.

Do the commonest and smallest things as beneath His eye. If you must live with uncongenial people, set to their conquest by love. If you have made a great mistake in your life, do not let it becloud all of it; but, locking the secret in your breast, compel it to yield strength and sweetness.

We are doing more good than we know, sowing seeds, starting streamlets, giving men true thoughts of Christ, to which they will refer one day as the first things that started them thinking of Him; and, of my part, I shall be satisfied if no great mausoleum is raised over my grave, but that simple souls shall gather there when I am gone, and say,

"He was a good man; he wrought no miracles, but he spake words about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself."

A Man Fell in a Hole

Prayer of Salvation

A prayer you may pray to invite Jesus to come into your heart:

Father God,I come to You just as I am. There is nothing I can do to earn salvation. I know that I am a sinner and I ask Your forgiveness. Wash me clean with the precious, life-giving blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son. I believe He took my sin upon Himself and died on the cross for me. And I believe that He was raised from the dead, giving me power over the enemy. I want to turn from my sins. I don't understand everything about being a Christian, but I invite You to come into my heart and life, and I ask for the powerful indwelling of Your Holy Spirit to guide and teach me. Jesus, I will trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You, Father, for Your gift of restoration and eternal life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Now, take the time to chat daily with the Lord - This is prayer. It doesn't have to be fancy - just from the heart !

Thank You

By: Daddy

Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You
Thank You, my Lord and King
Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You
Thank You for everything

Praise You, Lord Jesus, praise You
Praise You, my Lord and King
Praise You, Lord Jesus, praise You
Praise You, O Lord, I sing

Love You, Lord Jesus, love You
Love You, my Lord and King
Love You, Lord Jesus, love You
Love You with all my being

Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You
Thank You, my Lord and King
Thank You, Lord Jesus, thank You
Thank You for everything

The Fig Tree

The Bread of Life

God Saves!

Psalm 107:1-22 NIV

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,
for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
for they had rebelled against the words of God
and despised the counsel of the Most High.
So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,
for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.

Abba, Father!

By Daddy

Only at His altar
May we be altered
Aligned with the Truth
Ushered into Life
The Way of Love and Light
When our hearts cry out
"Abba, Father!"
And He is All in all
As we are all in awe.

When I Say "I Am a Christian"

By Carol Wimmer

When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!"
I'm whispering, "I get lost! That's why I chose this way"
When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't speak with human pride
I'm confessing that I stumble-needing God to be my guide
When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong
I'm professing that I'm weak and pray for strength to carry on
When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt
When I say, "I am a Christian," I don't think I know it all
I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught
When I say, "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it
When I say, "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name
When I say, "I am a Christian," I do not wish to judge
I have no authority--I only know I'm loved

A Newborn's Conversation With God

I received this e-mail today and wanted to share it with you...

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."
Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, "You will simply call her, 'Mom.'"

You were baptized into the family of Jesus Christ last Sunday and this Sunday is Mothers' Day. I received this "conversation" in an e-mail today and thought it was apropos to both occasions...

I love you.

-Daddy

Holy is His Name

Love Prayer

Thy Kingdom Come!

Here is another good book for you to read: Thy Kingdom Come! by Father Cedric Pisegna, C.P.

Be sure to share it with your brother!

I love you.

-Daddy

Welcome, Emma!

Baby Emma, you were delivered to us this morning on the first day of spring at 11:55am. We are overjoyed and blessed to finally make your acquaintance!

So calm and peaceful...even when you cry (you sound like a little lamb).

Coincidentally ;) here is the "Verse of the Day" on BibleGateway.com for today (03-20-2009):

"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”- 1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV

He is so good!

I love you.

-Daddy

Practicing His Presence

Read and re-read this book (click for link)...

I love you.

-Daddy

He Giveth More Grace

By Annie Johnson Flint

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

The Princess and the Pauper

A Parable About Your Identity in Christ

by Penny Haynes

Once upon a time, there was a homeless young woman who lived on the streets. She had no parents, no clothes except those upon her back, no belongings to speak of. She ate whatever she could find, even someone else's left-overs in a garbage can. One day, the prince of the city came through the streets with his royal carriage and saw the young woman rummaging through the garbage bins. His heart was filled with compassion, and he had his servants invite the young woman to enter the carriage to come to the royal palace. The woman was confused; why would the Prince want her to come to the palace? But she accepted the invitation, though she remained somewhat in a daze. When she came to the palace, she was shown to a huge bedroom with a large canopied bed, closets full of women's clothing, and which was adjacent to a large bathroom, with a huge jaccuzzi tub. She was instructed to remove her clothing, take a long bath, and put on any of the clothing she found in the closet. She was suspicious, and very uncomfortable, to say the least, but her curiosity, mixed with her fatigue and her hunger drove her to try it. She enjoyed the luxurious bath and the delicious feeling of being clean; she felt almost decadent when she put on the long flowing gown that she had picked out of all of the splendid garments. She went down the long staircase and was escorted into the main banqueting hall, where she sat down to a huge feast with every food imaginable. The Prince had requested that a special feast be held in honor of the young woman, who probably had not sampled such fare before. The evening was wonderful. She enjoyed the food, the drink, the fine clothing and the wonderfully important way she was treated by the Prince and the servants. It was like living in a dream. And she expected the dream to soon come to an end. But the Prince requested that the young woman become his Ward, his permanent guest, whose welfare would now be his concern. All of her needs would be taken care of by the Prince. She was welcome to stay with the Prince as a Princess of the kingdom for as long as she desired. Amazed at such a prospect, she followed the servant back to the huge bedroom, where she was given a silken dressing gown for sleeping. The bed was soft, the sheets cool, the covers warm. It was perfect. Yet in the morning, she found herself hungry again. And out of habit, she reached for her old rags instead of the fine clothing hanging in her closet. She went downstairs, through the huge banqueting room and kitchen, and went outside, behind the palace to the garbage dump, where she began rummaging for scraps from last night's feast, as she had learned to do throughout her life in order to keep from starving. One of the servants noticed a beggar eating out of the trash cans and informed the Prince. His Highness looked out the window and recognized the beggar as his new Ward. He rushed down the stairway and out behind the house and turned the young woman toward himself. Why are you wearing these rags? You have new royal clothing in your new bedroom. And why are you eating out of the dumpster? There is an abundance of food in the royal refrigerator, all at your disposal. You are dressed like a pauper, and acting like one who has no food or clothing, when in actuality, you are now a princess, with all the goods, rights and privileges of royalty. Don't you know who you are? I am an orphaned pauper, said the young woman, living in your palace. I don't deserve to be in such a fancy place; I am nothing, and I have nothing. I have never done anything to even merit my visiting here, much less my living here. That's not the point, said the Prince. I invited you here, and adopted you as one of the royal family solely out of my compassion for you. You didn't earn it; I freely gave it to you. And you no longer are an orphaned pauper; you are a royal Ward, with all of the benefits and privileges that come with being my Ward. Whether or not you wear the fine clothing or eat the sumptuous food is up to you, but it is yours nonetheless. However until you accept the fact that you are no longer a pauper, and embrace the truth that you are now a Princess, you will never be able to enjoy all that now belongs to you. The young woman stood there baffled. How could this be? Who was she? A pauper or a Princess? She didn't know who she was anymore. She had been a pauper so long, she continually felt like a pauper. But the Prince has decreed that she is a Princess, and whatever the Prince decrees is the truth. Dear Prince, I have been a Pauper so long, I do not know how to be a Princess. I don't feel like a Princess inside. And yet I know that what you decree becomes law. So I need you to help me remember who I now am, so that I will act like a Princess instead of a Pauper. I do so want to be a Princess. The Prince called one of the royal servants, a handmaiden named Paraklete. You, the Prince said, are to remain at the side of the Princess at all times, reminding her that she is now a royal Princess. You are to remind her of the benefits and privileges that come with her rank, and remind her of the behavior befitting someone in her position. You are not to force her to do anything, but to always speak the truth in love to her. And the newly found Princess slowly learned to eat from the royal refrigerator rather than the royal dump, and reach for her new fine clothing rather than her rags. And she made good use of the royal bathroom and routinely tried to keep herself clean from the filth she used to walk and wallow in. But this slow transformation of her outward actions only followed on the heels of the renewal of her mindset. With Paraklete by her side, reminding her that she was not a pauper, but a royal Princess, she slowly learned what her new identity truly was, and learned to act according to who she now was.