Wednesday Worship-O Holy Night

In this season of advent, let's take the time to focus on all that the coming of Jesus means to a world that was lost without Him...a world that lay in sin and error pining...pining for forgiveness, freedom, hope.  And with His coming, that world could rejoice in a soul that feels its worth...and the mercies brought with that new morn.

Let's do fall on our knees, hear the angel voices sing of that Holy Night...and the Divinity that was born to us.

Monday Meditations-Prophecy of the Advent

Words from the prophet in Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV)

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government

will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. 

He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

It has been accomplished.  Christ came, born as a babe in a manger, lived a sinless life, died a cruel death as He took our sin upon Himself, and in victory rose, conquering death while bringing light and peace into a dark and troubled world.  He reigns!!  Forever!

Wednesday Worship-Thanksgiving Song

With prayers that your Thanksgiving is abundant with joy, grateful hearts, and rich blessings!

Interview with Vonda Skelton and Book Giveaway!!!

Hi friends!! 

Please head over to my precious friend, Vonda Skelton's blog for a chance to win a Gracie or Grover book and read a little...actually a lot...about my journey as a writer!!!  You will surely want to put Vonda's blog on your list of must-reads!!  She is a gifted writer, speaker, and teacher!!!  She is a woman who loves the Lord, encouraging others and making them laugh, and helping writers pursue their dream.  What a privilege to be interviewed by such a lovely lady!!

Don't forget to leave a comment at her site for your chance to win!!!

Monday Meditation-Give Thanks

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love

and His wonderful deeds for mankind,

for He satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things."

Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV)

Unfailing love.  Grace and mercy.  Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.  The One who satisfies and fills...our Everlasting Portion.

Lord, we give You our thanks.  Thanks for Your unfailing love and for Your wonderful deeds for us.  Thank You for filling our emptiness.  Help us to hunger and thirst for You, believing that You are just what we need.  We love You.

Christmas Fun!!

Please visit me at my Gracie's Grounds blog for details for the upcoming Hemby Bridge Christmas Festival (near Charlotte, NC this weekend)!!!  It's going to be so merry!!!  I'd love to see you!!

Wednesday Worship-Giving Thanks

Let's take a moment to count our blessings...to name them one by one...and to thank God for each of them.  Even in our trials, we can thank Him...for His peace, for His strength, for His mercy and grace.

Monday Meditation

Psalm 100

A psalm.  For giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Yes!  Let's worship Him.  Let's come before Him with joyful songs!  Let's give thanks to Him and praise His Name!!  For He is good and His love endures forever, His faithfulness to a thousand generations!

Wednesday Worship

I am overwhelmed by His mercy and in awe of His grace.  He knows us...and loves us...and calls us His own.  May your day be blessed and may His praise be on your lips!

Monday Meditations-You Are Always On His Mind

"You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts,O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand...." Psalm 139:1-18

The Creator of the universe always has you on His mind.

And no matter what anybody else thinks about you, you are always on His mind.

Still Hearing Voices

"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."  Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)

I'm still hearing Aibileen's words in my head.  Words she spoke to Mae Mobley over and over again.

"You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."

Kathryn Stockett's The Help made a lasting impression on me.  Much of it is a sadness as thick as the humidity in Atlanta in July.

As I hear Aibileen's words to "Baby Girl" echoing in my head, I just wonder whose voices are  filling your thoughts today. Are they voices of love and encouragement, like Aibileen's, or voices of rejection, contempt, or condemnation like Miss Hilly's or Miss Leefolt's.

I pray that you are blessed with family and friends that breathe words of life and love and encouragement into you.  And I also pray that the primary voice you hear is that of our Heavenly Father, the One who loves us unfailingly.

Listen to His words.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love...."  Jeremiah 31:3

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love."  John 15:9

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends....I have called you friends....You did not choose me, but I chose you...."  John 15:13-16

He proclaims that His love is everlasting.  God's love for us equals that of His love for Jesus.  We are joint heirs with Him.  Jesus calls us "friend."  And He loved us so much that He laid down His life for us.

 No greater love.

And if we continue to search His Word, we find that in Him there is no condemnation.  We see that He experienced and understands rejection and contempt.  And that when we suffer, He is our ever present help.  He is our strength, our comforter, our defender, our strong tower, our shield, and our deliver.

Let's hear God's voice over all others.  Let's seek that voice in His Word.

And may we all be mindful of the words we speak, uttering "gracious words like a honeycomb" breathing "sweetness to the soul" and "health to the body" of those around us.

Lord, You are The Help we need.  Fill our thoughts with Your voice.  Fill our mouths with words as sweet as honey.  Protect our hearts, our souls, our minds.  Assure us with Your love today, and help us to likewise share love and encouragement with others.  We love You.

Wednesday Worship

Let's walk in victory today!