As we celebrate Christmas...

...please remember and interceed for our brothers and sisters all over the world who are being persecuted for claiming Christ.  Especially in China and the Muslim Nations.

Hebrews 13:3 "Remember the Lord's people who are in jail and be concerned for them.  Don't forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them."

For more information check out Voice of the Martyrs

Thankfulness

Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion.

Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception.

Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude.

Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road."

-John Henry Jowett

It is the eve of Christmas eve and as I sit and look at our tree that is beautiful and still smells wonderful I ponder my gratitude for the ONE in whom we celebrate this season. We choose not to do the Christmas craziness this year and just enjoy the moments, the hot chocolate, the good advent books, friends, family. Isn't that enough? I don't want to limp along a spiritual road devoid of thankfulness, striving to conform to the latest and greatest. No this season, I am thankful for the peace of simply sitting with my Abba Daddy. I am thankful that we don't have to conform any longer to ways of this world, even when those ways look good and inviting. I am thankful for a God, who loved me too much to leave me the way I was, so HE sent His son as a wee one, laid in a manager, to be my passover lamb. Isn't that enough of a gift? I am thankful to be content with the greatest gift, I am thankful that my spirit is no longer striving to find fulfillment in the things of this world, but is joyful in all the Father has blessed us with. God is so good and all my days I will remain grateful!

Day 6...the candles still burn

1 Peter 2:9

You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nations, a peculiar people; that you should praise Him who called you out of darkness and into the marvelous light!

LIVE THE LIGHT!!

7 Types of Fasting

There are several reasons we fast.  Often these reasons are responses to the different circumstances that are surrounding us; unique motivations that call us into a season of pressing in. 

#1  Experience the power of God in personal ministry (Matthew 17:21; Acts 9:9; George Whitfield, John G. Lake)

#2  Prophetic revelation of End Times (Acts 2: 17-21; Daniel 11:33-35; Jeremiah 23:18-20)

#3  Fulfillment of God's promises to our city or nation (Daniel 9:1-3; 10:1-3; Nehemiah 1:1-11; 9:32-3; Luke 2:36-38)

#4  To Stop a Crisis (Joel 1; 2:1-9; Jonah 3:3-9; Ezra 9:1-6)

#5  Direction (Acts 9:9; 13:1-2; Luke 6:12-13)

#6  Protection (Ezra 8:21-23; Daniel 6:18-23; Esther 3:13; 4:7; Acts 12:1-19)

#7  Intimacy; longing for Jesus (Matthew 9: 14-15; Ps 27:4; 35:13; 69:10)

Fasting accelerates the rate at which we receive revelation from God.

But it is written

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared

for those who love HIM.

But God has revealed them to us through His spirit. 

For the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2: 9-10

Give me your grace Abba, I need the grace to fast for it is so hard!

FIVE...

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.  John 1:4-5

Then Jesus spoke again to them saying, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.  John 8:12

Let your LIGHT shine, in you is the kingdom...the HOPE of GLORY!!

4 Candles tonight!

Luke 11:34

The light of the body is the eye: therefor when your eye is single, your whole body is full of light also; but when your eye is evil, your body is also full of darkness.

Acts 26: 18

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

As we were getting ready to light our candle this evening, some very dear friends dropped by and blessed us with a painting.  We were in AWE...

"Jesus, Being Still...overlooking Jerusalem"

I love it!! Thank you Michelle!

Light the third Candle...

Matthew 5: 16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

Luke 11:33

No man, when he lights a candle, puts it in a secret place, nor under a basket, but on a candle stick, that they who come in may see the light.

We are to reflect the LIGHT that came into the World to point us to the FATHER!!

Light the second candle

A fun game played at Chanukah is called Dreidel.  The dreidel is like a spinning top, but 4 sided.  On each of the four sides are the Hebrew letters Nune, Gimel, Shin, and Hay.  The letters stand for "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham - A great miracle happened there."  An interesting side note, dreidels that are in Israel say "A great miracle happened here."  Each player puts the same amount of something - we like to use M&M's - in the "pot".  Each player spins the dreidel.  The side the dreidel falls on determines what you get out of the pot. 
   Hay.....you get half the pot
   Gimel...you get all the pot
   Nune....you get nothing
   Shin......you must put one in the pot
Whoever has the most at the end wins!!!  When dreidel is played with real money, it is customary to give the winnings to charity since Rabbis are opposed to gambling games.

And so we light the second candle...

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps 119:105)

The entrance of your words give light; it gives understanding to the simple (Ps 119:130)

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life

(Prov 6:23)

The nature of God's word is light, pointing to the ONE who would take our sins away and bring us into relationship with HIMSELF!!!  Thank You Father, for your LIGHT!

Happy Chanukah...Night 1

Do you know the Story of Chanukah?  The Festival of Lights the Jews celebrate every year?  Let me tell you a story...

Almost 22 centries ago, during the time of the second temple in Jerusalem, an evil tyrant from Syria, Antiochus IV, was ruling in Judea.  He did not worship the ONE true God, but he allowed the Jews to worship YHWH.  As the years passed, many Jews began to embrace the Greek culture and lifestyle.  Antiochus decided to go into to Jerusalem and take treasures in the temple.  As if that were not enough, he forbid the Jews to keep their Holy traditions, laws, and culture as prescribed by the Holy One of Israel.  In a moment to define his power, he desecrated the Holy Altar by sacrificing a forbidden, unclean pig upon it.  The temple was then dedicated to Zeus and the Jews were forced to bow Zeus under penalty of death.  Many innocent people were brutally murdered and the surviving Jews were taxed heavily.  Antiochus' power was not yet sated as he then declared himself a god, Epiphanes, meaning God manifest. 

Many Jews resisted, refusing to follow Greek practices or to bow to the pagan idols.  This ragtag group of common people, farmers, workers, and servants all banded together under the leadership of Judas Maccabee.  By using guerrilla warfare they drove the Syrians out and regained control of the Holy Temple.  Immediately they began the task of purifying it.  They rebuilt the defiled altar, all new holy vessels were crafted, restored the interior and consecrated the Temple courts.  The rededication date of the temple was set to be the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (which usually falls sometime in the month of December on the Roman calender).   The festivities for this rededication were to last 8 days.  But as they soon discovered they only had enough oil to light the Menorah for one day.  With an order for new oil to be made, they lit the first candle.   Miraculously, the Menorah burned for the entire 8 days of the festival.  The whole congregation of Israel decided that the rededication of the alter should be observed with great joy and gladness at the same season each year.  The purpose of Chanukah is not just the retelling of the revolt, although it is a marvelously story.  The biggest lesson is the power of the Spirit of YHWH, the ability of God's people to live by God's commands, the 8 days of miraculous oil.

"...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord of hosts." Zech 4:6

We light the first candle...

The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you:  but the LORD shall be unto you an everylasting light, and your God the Glory!  Isa 60:19

The LORD is my light and my slavation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my light; of whom shall I be afraid?  Ps 27:1

Fasting is...

Fasting is hard.  There is no other way to say it.  If someone says it's not, their lying!  It is hard to give up the nature desires of our flesh.  It is hard to say no to the gnawing of hunger in the pit of your belly when you still have to make food or serve food or be in the general vacinity of food.  That is why there is GRACE for fasting.  We have to ask for it, HE is always faithful to give it because fasting is a kingdom concept; one we all should embrace.  The New Testament Church history records the early christian's fasting at least once a week, but most of them did it twice, usually on Wednesdays and Fridays.  That is lifestyle, not just a "when the preacher calls a fast" type thing.  That is the basics.  It is not radical. 

• Fasting is an invitation by the Father.  He is not going to make us, what kind of relationship is that?  No, it is an invitation because He wants me to want MORE of HIM. 
• Fasting is a paradox.  Food (and things) are used to stimulate us, they give us the illusion of strength.  But as we begin to fast from food (things) our illusion of strength disappears and we stand raw and tender before the Father.  Weak and hungry, our spirits are sensitive to the HOLY SPIRIT.  And in that sensitivity, our Spirit is strengthened. 
• Fasting is a grace.  As voluntary weakness is embraced, knowing our strength is coming only from the FATHER, we walk in more spiritual strength.  His Grace is multiplied to those who seek it.  (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18)
• Fasting is humbling.  Psalm 35:13; Psalm 69:10
• Fasting is worship.  It declares our need for HIM.  As we fast out of our desire for him, we become better equipped to pour out our lives right back into His hands. 

As we fast regularly, our paradigm changes and the rhythm of our body sets in.  It could be compared to running.  As you are building miles (or a mile, as the case may be), it is painful.  But as the miles build, endurance is achieved and your body creates a pace.  Does it become easy, NO.  But it does become more a part of who you are. 

Oh ABBA, daddy, that you would work this fasting lifestyle in me.  That it would become a rhythm of who I am.  That my heart would hotly pursue you above all else.  I want more of you, so I come...meet me and give me the GRACE for this discipline. 

A Lesson You Cannot Learn from A Book

Where there is no cross, there is no crown. This lesson cannot be learned from books, and men do not usually taste this sweetness. This rich life does not exist in a comfortable environment. If the spices are not refined to become oil, the fragrance of the perfume cannot flow forth; and if the grapes are not crushed in the vat, they will not become wine.


FROM A CHINESE CHRISTIAN

Monday's are for Gratitude

Gratitude brings us closer to the Father as our perspective is changed and we see that in even the smallest of details that HE is passionate about us!

So continuing on in my gratitude journal...

11.  A Wonderful thanksgiving meal with family and friends

12.  Waking up to snowfall (and especially sweet as that was the Christmas tree picking day!)

12.  Boys building snowmen

13.  Snowball fights

14.  Candy Canes

15.  A Hot Fire on a Cold Snowy Day

16.  Good Friends

17.  Winter Coats and Mittens that keep us warm

19.  The Warm Home Provided for us

20.  The Christmas Tree that helps us Celebrates the REASON for this SEASON!!

21.  Sweet, Sweet Girls:  Molly, Madelyn, and Caitlyn!

So as this new week begins, what are you thankful for?  Where can you find the tresures hidden in the mundane of life?  Join us at the Gratitude Community...A Holy Experience

May your Monday be Blessed beyond measure in all the Father has...

Happy Home

Home is the true wife's kingdom.

Very largely does the wife hold in her hands, as a sacred trust, the happiness and the highest good of the

hearts that nestle there. In the last analysis, home happiness depends on the wife.

Her spirit gives the home its atmosphere.

Her hands fashion its beauty.

Her heart makes its love.

And the end is so worthy, so noble, so divine, that no woman who has been called to be a wife, and has listened to the call, should consider any price too great to pay, to be . . .

the light,

the joy,

the blessing,

the inspiration,

of a home.

The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies.
A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness.
God sends many beautiful things to this world,
many noble gifts;
but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows
in a mother
who has learned love's lessons well,
and has realized something of the meaning

of her sacred callling.

~ J. R. Miller, "Secrets of Happy Home Life, 1894" ~

Fasting: not an if, but a when

The idea of voluntary sacrifice is rare idea in our culture that is saturated with pleasure, instant gratification, and selfishness.  Fasting by definition is abstaining from food.  Many Christians think fasting is radical, however, Jesus said WHEN you fast (Matthew 6:16), not if you fast.  So if Jesus said WHEN we fast, why are we not fasting?  I believe most people don't understand it.  My lack of understanding has lead me on a path of learning and listening because I want to understand.  So these next few posts are going to be about what I have been learning about fasting.

Jesus has a burning desire for us, a firey passion.  The depth of His love comes through to me by His tender mercy, His gladness of having a relationship with me, His zealousness.  Until we fully understand our idendity in Christ, we won't understand our need to fast or even possess a desire to try it.  Fasting positions our hearts to encounter Jesus as the Bridegroom.  The purpose of fasting is to strengthen us in our quest to be preoccupied with God and His will.  We fast in in order to encounter God more intimately, more profoundly, to change the world! 

I read that and think, YES, YES, YES...I want that intimacy with my Abba daddy.  I long for Jesus, so I fast.  I want to fully embrace the discipline, the grace, the joy of fasting.  So I challenge you, will you choose a day or two each week to say "I could eat that, but I won't because in my weakness, Christ strong, Christ is revealed."  That is my hearts cry, deep, active intimacy with my DADDY.  I want to experience HIS heart. 

Abba, Father, draw me closer to your heart.  Give me the grace to fast and to hear your voice!