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!!