Growth Through Faith ~ Stretching Situations

Hello to you my dear friends!
I appreciate your visits and those kind words left in your comments.
  Thank you for gracing my life with your friendship. ♡

The New Year is well on it's way and many of you have shared

on your Blogs already of your WORD for the year. 

I have so enjoyed reading your posts as to why you chose the word you did. 

Some of you have already shared testimonies of how

the Lord is working in your lives with and through your word.

One of you dear ladies has a terrific word for this year

and I have quietly claimed it as a second word for my own life

and have put it into practice in a BIG way over this past weekend.

I'm  looking to ACCOMPLISH a lot in the way of purging 

in both my home and our outside buildings this year.

My husband had better keep an eye on his garages. 😉

As Christians we all want to experience the fullness of the Christian life. 
There is so much more to having a relationship with God 
than simply having our sins forgiven.
But in this life we will all encounter faith ~ stretching situations
in order for us to grow in our walk of faith;
that is, if we are willing for the Father to speak to our heart
and direct us through those difficult situations
that are most certainly going to come into our lives at one time or another.
The beautiful thing is that whatever the Lord allows
into our lives it is for the purpose of increasing our intimacy with Him.

Proverbs chapter 5 speaks to us on the security in wisdom
and it is full of instruction. 
"Keep my commandments and live."Verse 4
☆
"Get wisdom!Get understanding!" Verse 5
☆
"When you walk your steps will not be hindered,
and when you run you will not stumble." Verse 12
☆
"Take firm hold of instruction and do not let go." Verse13
☆
" But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." Verse 18
☆
"Keep your heart with all diligence,
for out of it spring the issues of life." Verse 23
☆
Those are just a few of the excellent verses on getting wisdom
found in chapter 5.

So when we face trials 《and we will》 or must make decisions 《and we must》
that require strength and wisdom far beyond our own,
that is when God wants us to seek Him through His Word
and in prayer.
Likewise, He asks us to pay attention to the promptings 
of His Holy Spirit, to listen to that still small voice
and be confident He'll work through our obedience
to Him in an amazing way.
As we seek to serve God obediently and trust Him to lead 
us in our Christian life we can trust Him in everything,
even those faith ~ stretching situations.

Heavenly Father~thank You for Your unfailing love.
Help us always to trust Your will and Your ways.
Amen.

Be Blessed!
~ Debbie ~

My Word ~

Hello to you my dear and faithful friends ~

I trust that you had a most beautiful Christmas and New Year's Eve

filled with all the joy that the Lord so graciously and abundantly showered you with.

I know that as we sat around our Christmas tree

there was joy and laughter through out our home

with the sweet fellowship of our precious family.

Grandchildren certainly have a way of putting a smile in your heart.

For many of us the New Year brings with it change;

changes that we desire to make in our own lives

after all, it's a New Year and new beginnings

seem to touch us all in different ways.

When I became a Blogger in this wonderful blogging community

I would visit many of you and see that you had a "word" for the year.

I had never heard of such a thing, but found it to be quite intriguing;

before I knew it, I was hearing about these "words" people had for the year

as I would daily go about my life.

This year I am going to come aboard with some of you

and claim my word for the New Year.

Actually, the Lord has placed a word upon my heart 

and it keeps coming into my mind and tugging at my heart strings.

In fact,  I have been putting my word into practice long before the New Year arrived. 

My "word" for this year is Uplifting.

Two of the definitions in the dictionary are:

"influences intended to uplift and inspire"

 I find myself talking with others that tend to be "Negative Nellie's" 

and at times it can be easy to go along with them
or just agree when that's not at all how I feel.

I have found that by speaking in an uplifting manner 

it causes the other person to do the same
and actually makes the conversation sweeter and more pleasant. 
I desperately want them to see the brighter side and find the joy of the Lord.
I want to encourage them along the way, and isn't that what God would have us to do?
♡

And then there are those who may be discouraged

and need more of a positive uplifting word of encouragement.
I want to be sensitive to the needs of others when I have a conversation with them
and speak in an uplifting, God honoring manner. 

I think you get the idea of where I'm going with this.

God's Word tells us in Colossians chapter 4 verse 6 to ~

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,

that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

I desire to speak what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive,

purposeful, complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving and thoughtful.

Seasoned with salt  ~ just as salt not only flavors, it also prevents corruption.

I want my speech to be a blessing to others no matter what type

of conversation I may come into contact with.

"Hear: for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening

of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness 

is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness,

there is nothing froward or perverse in them."

(Proverbs 8:6-8)

I want  my speech be all that God wants it to be.
I desire to be encouraging, inspiring and uplifting 
to all who may cross my path. 
♡

 Will you be having a word for the year that will draw you closer to the Lord?

Heavenly Father ~

Draw us ever so close to Your side

and help us to be the people You desire for us to be

as we walk, talk and live for Your glory.

Amen.

Be Glorious!

~ Debbie ~ 

A Gift to Remember ~

Hello to you my dear and faithful friends!

I trust that you had a most wonderful Christmas

with your loved ones?

Due to both of my daughters being married 

we celebrate Christmas together on what ever day works best for everyone.

This year we gathered together and celebrated Christmas on the 26th

and what a beautiful day we had.

We now have with us our oldest daughters three boys

and will enjoy them for the remainder of the week.

Unfortunately the flu bug has hit a couple of the boys

and my husband and I are feeling a bit under the weather.  

Oh well...that too shall pass.

Since it was just my husband and I on Christmas day

we did something we have never done before,

we spent the day together on the ski slopes.

You might think that would be the norm while we live in the mountains

and near a ski area, but it's not.

This is not my usual kind of post, but I wanted to share with you

the beauty of our day and the gentle hand of God

as He directed, protected and orchestrated our day.

***

As most of you know, I have been looking at having a knee replacement

for months now, but the Lord  for some reason has put me on hold.

I could become anxious over all the strange details that have taken place,

but with Jesus as the Lord of my life, I shall patiently wait upon Him,

knowing that He has my best interest at heart.

I heard that you can rebuild cartilage and so that is one of the things I am trying.

I believe the aqua aerobics I have been faithfully doing have helped as well.

With that said; I wanted to find out for myself if I could ski

since I have not been on downhill skies for 10 years.

I've been nervous about skiing since I have two bad knees,

but life is too short and should something happen

there's always a fix, right? 

***

I wanted to give my dear husband a gift he would really enjoy

and remember for years to come.

He was shocked that I wanted to go skiing

and a little apprehensive about my knees.

We had the time of our life!

This was the best Christmas gift I believe I have ever given my husband

and what a gift to myself, I found out that I need not fear.

My God was with me throughout that day,

keeping watch over my knees even when I would come to a stop

and gently fall over due to my balance issue.

Life is too short and I'm going to enjoy the days God has blessed me with by

doing the things that bring me joy with those whom God has graced my life with.

40 years ago on January 21st. I met my dear husband on Vail Mountain;

I was working as a chairlift operator in the Game Creek Bowl (chair 7)

when he and a friend were visiting from Canada and enjoying the ski season.

There he was, on that beautiful winters day

 skiing with such grace and style towards my chair lift
when my heart went pitter patter.

 And the rest is history... 

******

I gifted my husband with a GoPro camera for his 60th Birthday

and we had a great time using it together on the mountain.

Thanks to YouTube I'm able to share a glimpse of our day with you. 
At the bottom of my post click on the link to view the video.

Thank you for taking the time to stop in. I always enjoy your visits!

See you next year!
Blessings and be safe.

Joy!

~ Debbie ~

 https://youtu.be/AJabIyBDOeQ

The music is from the Michael Buble′ Christmas CD
  Amazon

O Come Let Us Adore (Worship) Him ~

The joyful sounds of Christmas carols being sung at every turn

is sure to bring gladness and joy into our hearts

as we prepare with anticipation the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For myself, this Christmas season has been one where I have yearned 

with-in my own heart to worship the King,
to bow down on bended knee in the presence of His Holiness.

It seems as if daily I find myself humming or singing,

"O come let us adore Him."
~

I was reading in my Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary

that public worship consisted of ~ preaching ~ reading of Scripture ~

prayer ~ singing ~ baptism ~ the Lord's Supper and alms giving.

"Worship ~ Bow down, when given to God, worship involves an acknowledgement 

of Divine perfections. It may express itself in the form of

direct address, as an adoration or thanksgiving, or in service to God;

and may be private or public.

Worship presupposes that God is, that He can be known by man,

and that His perfections set Him far above man."

I visited a small town near where I live and they were having a sale at their Library;

so of course I wandered towards the area where the old books were located

and came across an old dictionary that was printed in 1931.

I love dictionaries, especially the older ones.

This dictionary speaks well of worship ~

"Adoration, devotion, aspiration, heavenly-mindedness, spiritual-mindedness,

vow, homage, service, kneeling, genuflection, prostration,

prayer, praise, offering, divine service, honor, revere, idolize, admire."

These are just a few of the words used to describe worship in this dictionary.

******

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days

of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

Saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews?

for we have seen his star in the east, and are come

to worship him."  (Matthew 2:1-2)
~

 Christmas has come to mean many things: family, love, gift-giving,

service, celebration, joy, and so much more ~

all are certainly worthy expressions of a multifaceted event;

but as we look to the birth of Jesus, may we not forget

or overlook our worship of the One who is worthy to be praised.

A King worthy of worship has been born, and when Simeon,

the godly saint in Jerusalem who was looking for the Messiah,

first held the baby Jesus in his arms, he blesses (praised) God

in a beautiful prayer of praise. (Luke 2:28-32)

As we look at the first ones in Scripture and their response

when they saw the newborn King,

may we find ourselves like minded bowing down in worship and adoration

of our newborn King, our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.
Jesus seeks true worshipers ~
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:
for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him
must worship him in spirit and in truth."
(John 4:23-24) 

 Those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus today.

******

"O come let us worship and bow down:
let us kneel before the Lord our maker."

Amen.

Dear friends ~ From my heart to yours,

 I wish for you a Christmas filled with the joy of the Lord!

My prayer is that your heart will be filled with the Psalms as you sing unto the Lord
and worship Him, with your whole heart.

Have a most Blessed and Christ centered Christmas ~

Be Joyful!

~ Debbie ~  

A Self-Giving Christmas ~

Hello to you, my dear and sweet friends!

Oh how the wonder of Christmas surrounds us

this beautiful time of the year.

Here is love, not that we loved God

but that He loves us. (1 John 4:19)

God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son

to cancel out the penalty of sin to allow for 

eternal reconciliation with God.

(John 3:16 ~Romans 6:23 & 8:32) 

That gift was followed by the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)

and grace by faith (Ephesians 2:8).

God gave of Himself at the first Christmas.

******

I was listening to the Christmas song "The Little Drummer Boy"

and pondered on the words that were penetrating on my heart.

I couldn't help but think of that poor boy

who had no gift to bring that was fit for the King.

He had only one possession , his tiny drum.

Picture this scene ~

The little boy asks the baby, "shall I play for You on my drum?" 

Mary, the mother of Jesus nods yes, and so he plays his best for Him.

As you read the lyrics of this Christmas song

of a poor boy who gave of who he was ~ a simple child

who gave his heart and hands and talents

to please and worship Jesus.

******

Come they told me,

a newborn King to see

Our Finest gifts we bring,

to  lay before the King

So to honor Him, when we come.

Little Baby, I am a poor boy too

I have no gift to bring,

that's fit to give our King

Shall I play for You, on my drum?

Mary nodded,

the ox and lamb kept time

I played my drum for Him,

I played my best for Him

Then He smiled at me,

me and my drum.

I left the pa rum pum pum pums out
as I'm sure you are singing the tune in your heart.

 

There is no better time than Christmas than to give of ourselves.  

We can give God our Hearts ~

(Mark 10:13-14)

Let us come as little children giving Him His rightful place

 on His lordship and His love.

We can express our love through prayer, worship and fellowship.

We can give God our Hands ~

We can serve God through serving others.

(Galatians5:13 & 6:2)

We can give God our Talents ~

Our talents and abilities can be used for the glory of God.

(Corinthians 10:31 & Colossians 3:23)

We can give God our Love ~

When we love others we proclaim that we love Jesus.

(John 13:35)

When we show forgiveness of others it is like a gift to Jesus

in response to His forgiving us.

(Ephesians 4:32)

God wants ALL of us more than He wants anything else. 

 

******

Dear friends, I would like to share with you a beautiful
part of Scripture that I have to say struck my heart
like it has never done before.
This time of year we hear and read of the birth of our Savior;
we come before Him, bow down and worship Him
and adore Him.
But as I was reading the book of Luke where we see the 
Christmas story clearly it was there in chapter 2 verses 36 through 38
that took hold of my heart strings.
*
Anna, a widowed prophetess who, in her old age
spent all her waking hours in the Temple worshiping
and waiting for the Messiah to appear.
When Mary and Joseph presented Jesus, their first born
to God in the Temple, Anna recognized Him immediately.
She knew God's promises had been fulfilled; the King
of Israel had appeared. 
God had kept His promises to His people.
Anna devoted herself to "serving God by worship"
through fastings and prayers. 
I love that! 
What an honor to her God!
But Anna did much more, she also spread the Good News
among others who were looking for the redemption in Jerusalem.
What a testimony of great love for her Messiah, her King of Kings.
I want to be found worshiping with fastings and prayers for my King of Kings,
so as to be ready ALWAYS to share the Gospel with those who are searching for Truth.

I am praying for the abundant grace and blessing
of the Lord in your life during this season of giving and loving Jesus.
Have a most blessed holiday season, dear friends.

Joy to you!
~ Debbie ~