My Christmas Story

God had told my husband and I to study and show ourselves approved. We knew in our hearts that meant we were to have Bible Study in our home. I was the “teacher” and I studied what God would tell me to. I found He always gave me the topic on Monday morning or Sunday night, a couple days after our gathering on Friday. We had been meeting once a week for a little over a month when my Christmas story begins.

I had just dropped my little ones off for school on a Monday morning. As I was driving home, I was thinking about Christmas. It was getting close and we had no extra money for gifts and we could barely pay the bills.

I started getting heavy hearted as I was driving. I was asking God how we were suppose to get the kids Christmas gifts with only three more paychecks coming in. We have this bill due, these other bills over due, the house payment coming up, and we need gas money to get back and forth to work. These paychecks were not going to cover everything, much less a Christmas dinner.

Still driving down the road, my heart was starting to sink thinking we couldn’t have anything for Christmas. I started crying because there was no way possible to give even the smallest gifts to my six children. There was no hope of seeing their little faces light up on Christmas morning.  We wouldn't even have a special dinner.

I know the real Gift is Jesus, but I also know He loves to give us our hearts desires; He loves to see us smile. Jesus likes to shower us with gifts, spiritual and monetary. Why wouldn’t He want us to be able to give gifts to our children?

I hadn’t noticed before, but the radio was playing. Through my sobs I started hearing a song. What I was hearing was God singing to me. I heard His voice loud and clear– He was singing to me, answering my prayer, through the radio straight to my heart. The song playing on the radio was Feliz Navidad- I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas. God was singing to me, “I want to wish you a Mary Christmas, I want to wish you a Mary Christmas, I want to wish you a Mary Christmas, from the bottom of My heart!”

My heart immediately filled with joy, my tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy because I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt God Himself was talking to me. He was telling me everything is going to be alright and He is in control. He gave me a sense of peace and reassurance like I had never had before. I knew we would have a beautiful Christmas. I didn’t need to worry or be broken hearted about not having anything for my family, God would supply. All my doubts disappeared.

He had revealed to me that He wanted me to sit at His feet and rest in His presence just as Mary did. He didn’t want me to fret and be concerned about all the chores, tasks, and little details like Martha did. My heart and soul rejoiced and said “Yes Lord– I accept Your invitation. I will sit with You, I will be in Your presence. I want to be right here with You.” This was the first time I had ever heard the Lord sing to me and it was amazing,

If that wasn’t enough, I had a vision while the Lord was singing to me. I was still driving down the road and I saw Jesus on the horizon dancing. Yes, dancing. He was dancing to Feliz Navidad. I could only see Him from the belly up because He is so big.

Now, tears are rolling down my cheeks because I am laughing so hard. I know this sounds crazy and untrue, but this is what I saw. Nobody would ever think that Jesus would be funny, but I tell you He can be. I know for a fact that God created the sense of humor and the laughter that goes with it. I laughed and cried all the way home and then I don’t know how long after that. I realized after I got home that the Holy Spirit had to have been driving those last 7 miles because I couldn’t have been. I could barely see through the tears of laughter filling my eyes. My stomach hurt because I was giggling so hard. People passing by me probably thought something was wrong with me. I don’t know how long I sat giggling at the stop sign. Thank God He was driving for me.

I knew then what the next Bible Study would be about. We studied about sitting in God’s presence, receiving His presents, His peace, and all He has for us. He supplies all our needs and takes care of our wants when they are in His will. Sometimes God just wants us with Him and all the other stuff is not so important, it all works out. We learned how to have a Mary Christmas.

Yes, I told the Bible Study group about how God sang to me and what I saw. Yes, they thought I was crazy, but that’s ok. Have you ever had the Lord of Lords dance for you (or even with you)?  We had an awesome study that night. The Spirit of Laughter came in that room and filled us with joy. What an incredible present God gave us that night. He gave us the gift of His presence.

Just as the Lord had reassured me earlier, we had a wonderful Christmas that year.  God supplied the gifts for the children and Christmas dinner through friends, family, churches, and even a very large unexpected  Christmas bonus from work!

Every time I hear Feliz Navidad I am reminded of how much God knows and is concerned about the tiniest details of our hearts. I am reminded of how much He loves and cares for us. I am also reminded of how much He loves to give us His joy– which is Jesus Christ Himself.

I want to wish you a Mary Christmas!

Smile

Not too long ago, I was walking downtown.  There was a man sitting in the grass by the sidewalk.  He looked a little discouraged or maybe depressed.  He cordially nodded.  I smiled and asked him, "How are you doing?"  He told me he was blessed.  Then with a smile he said, "Ma'am, thank you for smiling. You are the first person that smiled at me today."  It was almost noon and this was a busy street.  I don't know how long he had been sitting there, but nobody in passing had smiled at him all day. This man had been hungry for someone, anyone, to notice him.

Sometimes we are too caught up in our own world to look someone in the eye and bless them by acknowledging them.  A smile is simple, it doesn't hurt, and it is free, and it feels good to give.  Passing on a smile can be contagious.  Can you afford to give the poor, the downcast, the hurting or lonely a smile?  Do you know how much of a reward it gives you?  How much reward in heaven will you get?  I smiled at this man weeks ago, and I am still blessed to know I touched him in some way. 

 When they were discouraged, I smiled and that encouraged them, and lightened their spirits. 

Job 29:24 LVB

When this man told me I was the only person that had smiled at him all day, it reminded me of a story I had heard before of a man that left a note saying he would not jump from the Golden Gate Bridge if someone would smile at him.  He jumped that day.  I found information on this article and others like it on the web. 
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/164/5/720

You will never know what such a small gift might do for a someone in passing.  Give what God has given you- His joy.  Pass it on to others.

I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you took me into your home.  I had no clothes, so you gave me some clothes. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in jail and you came to me.'  ``Then the good people will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you? When did we feed you when you were hungry? When did we give you something to drink when you were thirsty?  When did we see you as a stranger and take you into our homes? When did you need clothes and we gave you some clothes? . When were you sick or in jail? When did we come to you?'  ``I will answer them, `I am telling you the truth: Since you treated some of my ``unimportant'' brothers this way, you did it to me!'  Matthew 25:35-40

A smile can feed a hungry soul the love he needs, it can refresh a thirsty spirit.  A smile can invite one into a warm caring world, it can cover a cold unloved heart.  A simple smile is a powerful medicine to the sick and hurting.  One smile can come into the depressed soul and brake the chains that bind.

Whenever you smile at one person, you smile at Jesus.

SMILE

Someone might need it

Many go without one

Invigorating to receive

Loving to give

Everyone enjoys a smile

Pass it on.

Thank You Lord

Thank You Lord for being with me at all times. Please don’t let me put anything in front of You Lord. I want You to be first at all times. Help remind me of this daily, minute by minute.

I love Your presence Lord; I love to rest in Your presence. I love the comfort You give, the assurance, and safety You engulf me in. I love to be near You. Let me always remember You are next to me. Sometimes, I draw closer to You than other times because I am busy with life on this earth, but Lord, let me never forget that You are right next to me. You are within me.

I pray for Your knowledge and Your wisdom Lord- Your ways. I need You and only You Lord; You are the way, the truth and the life. You are my Life. You are the only life for me. There is nothing else for me Lord. Without You, life would be worthless; nothing would be worth having or doing.

Guard my lips Lord; close them when they need to be closed. I thank You that You always will. I praise You that I hurt no one today. I praise You that my family hurts no one today, or any other day. I know You keep us from evil.

I praise You for all You do for us Father,
in the name of Jesus I pray.

As a Child

Father, you give me a sense of security, no worries, nothing bothering me. I am safe in Your arms. Just as I was as a child, I have no fears. I am being taken care of. I do not know fear. I do not know confusion. I do not know evil. I have peace. I know joy. I live in joy. I have no cares, they are in You. I do not know what a burden is. I play under the fruit tress, I dance among the flowers, I pick from the berry bushes, all freely given by You. Your presence surrounds me. I live in freedom. I am totally content in You.

And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2-3

Being a child, I was totally and completely dependent upon someone else. I didn’t worry about anything. I didn’t think about when or where my next meal was, I didn’t even think about what I had to do next. Everything was taken care of for me.

Jesus says come as a child- come with your arms extended upwards, let Me lift you, let Me carry you, come and be safe in My arms, let Me take care of you.

Then Jesus set the child in the midst of them, the child was right there, with the Lord, in His presence, sitting with Him. That’s where God wants us, right there, in His presence.

Jesus says we must be converted, or change. The Greek word change or covert means to twist, turn around, reverse, think differently or reconsider. Our own desires and habits have to do an about face. Everything that we think is vital in our lives has to turn towards Gods way of thinking. We have to realize that these things are unimportant and Jesus is all important. We are to become little children and have no other desire than God and His Kingdom. This includes living His way of life.

We need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is our Father. He has everything under control, and we are to rest in His bosom. We are to lean on Him.

When we seek God, depend and rely on Him, we are capable of entering into His presence, His kingdom. Just as when we are born again and we have realized that Jesus has saved us,  we now know we have a home in Heaven with Him. We can live in the Kingdom of God right here.

A child is sometimes referred to as an immature or baby Christian, or a slave to the King. When we are first born again, we have excitement in the Lord. Like a child, we are amazed at what He can do and what He has just done. We are intrigued at what He is doing and going to do. We are awestruck at His presence. We need to stay like this. We need to be starry eyed and amazed and intently fixed on the Lord at all times. We should know that God has everything taken care of.

Can you reach your arms up and let the Father take you into His presence? Can you lift your eyes up to Him in wonder and know He has everything in control. Exchange your worries and burdens, become like a child, and be in His presence.

Give Us Revelation Lord

 Lord may Your Holy Spirit help us pray Your will.

     Give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You Lord. Give us clarity in Your ways, in what You know Lord, of how things are. Let us know the total You. You have taken off the veil, I pray that we look Your way to see exactly who You are. We want to be fully acquainted with You. All other things pale in comparison to You. Revelation is ours, You have uncovered Your love for us on the Cross. Lord, You have disclosed Your being to us, You have revealed it in the light. I pray we choose to see You in everything. I thank You Lord for letting us know You better, letting us advance closer to You each and every day. We want to be in Your presence with You, in the Holy of Holies. We can behold You. Jesus, You let us perceive You, see You, and understand You. Let us choose to embrace You- all of You.

     Father, enlighten our vision. Remind us that You have shined Your light and goodness into our minds, into our hearts. Your love illuminates our world Lord, it sheds rays of hope, sunshine, glory, awesomeness, wonderment, love, joy, peace, rays of You- onto our lives God. Let us gaze with intent and amazement, our eyes wide open toward You Lord. I pray the eyes of our heart, our deep thoughts, our mind, see Your Light completely. Our world is brightened up by You because You are our everything– all we need.

     Lord I pray we know the meaning of the hope of Your invitation. I pray we can discern clearly the expectation, the anticipation of Your calling for us. You have invited us to Your life Lord, let us open our hearts to receive every bit of it. You have called us to Your sanctuary, let us come in and abide and dwell with You Lord. You have called us to work with You, for You, along side of You, let us say “Yes Lord”. You have called us into Your riches Father, given us an invitation to Your abundance God, Your possessions, Your wealth, Your fullness- every blessing within Your Kingdom is ours when we say “Yes Lord”. Our calling is to have Your wisdom and revelation. Holy Spirit, put this into our hearts and minds. Seal this within our souls.
In Jesus' beautiful name- Amen

 

Ephesians 1:17-19