Hey Readers,
I’ve had several of you ask about my lack of blog posting as of late. I haven’t abandoned you! I’ve just been caught up in the whirlwind of busyness. And one thing I have learned over the past sixteen years of ministry is that my family takes priority. As a mom, I am blessed with the God-given calling to bear the title, MOM. My kids need me.
It would be much more glorious to pursue initiatives where I can receive an occasional pat on the back. But truth be told, I’ve probably learned more from swapping up spilled milk and sitting in traffic as I carpool little ones to-and-fro.
There are many lessons that have come from motherhood.
Patience really is a virtue. It is not something that comes naturally and must be cultivated by life’s own challenging circumstances over the course of time.
I’ve learned that middle-school boys smell like sweat about 98.9% of the time.
Maybe don’t get a dog. Or at least not a puppy. Unless you are ready to say goodbye to your favorite pair of shoes. Besides, as much as your kids promise to feed the dog and walk her regularly…they will fail. There will be some broken promises in the end. But regardless, despite the agony of dog-training…you might end up with a new best friend.
I’ve learned humility by following after some well-taught advice from a mentoring mom I once had. She told me true JOY is discovered by putting life in proper perspective: Jesus, Others, and then You.
I realized that when you mess up, you can ask your kids for forgiveness. They have the biggest hearts. Modeling confession and forgiveness goes a long ways.
I’ve seen myself through a different lens…and I haven’t always liked what I see. Selfishness. Pride. A short fuse. Parenting opens your eyes to see where there is still some work to be done in your own life.
Girl drama is temporary. The season will pass. And you will enjoy reliving memories later on.
Make home your safe place for your kiddos to be real…and to know that regardless of what happens, they will be loved.
Don’t neglect your relationship with your spouse. He is important too! Date nights are necessary to nurture intimacy. You will be glad in the long run.
God always comes first. Pursue Him with all of your heart, soul, and mind and everything else will fall into place.
I promise I will be back soon! If you’re looking for more…may I point you HERE to my latest guest blog at Lift Up Your Day, “Why is Confession Important?”
Your friend on the journey,
Sue A. Allen
What lessons have you learned from parenting?
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We often miss it. We put the focus on us, rather than on God. We think we have to be perfect. More righteous. Our ducks all lined up in a row. If someone else appears to have their prayers consistently answered, we want to know their method. Their secret. Their tips. And we line up to buy their best-selling book on prayer. We assume we can strip down the frivolous and somehow reproduce results.
We mimic.
And we try.
But in our vain attempt to get answers from God, we erroneously misplace attention on ourselves. As if somehow our own righteousness bestows an answer. If we can be holier than thou, our prayers will be heard. But God teaches us that prayer is not meant to be about us. Prayer is to be who we are. We are to be people who pray.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” James 5:13-16
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16b) because prayer works. When we pray, God IS working. God hears his people and acts on our behalf. The point James is making in this text is to encourage us to keep praying. In all circumstances. Good and bad. Because prayer is effective. It is not how we pray, but more importantly, the act of prayer. We need to be intentional prayers’.
What we say. When we say. How we say. This is not the main point here…the point is that we say. Period. That we say prayers to God our heavenly Father and keep in constant communion with Him. Even when He seems distant and far away, unmovable and static. We pray so that we can know God and know Him more. We pray so doubt does not settle in. We openly confess our struggles.
And then we wait. We wait for God to reveal Himself to us as only He can. Nobody wants to pray to a phony, artificial, unreal god. Nobody. We want to feel and relate to a God we know. After all, He knows us. He knows our thoughts and our actions better than we even know ourselves. Nobody knows us as well as God…so we can all stop pretending and be real about who we truly are.
We overestimate our own abilities when we neglect prayer. And we grossly underestimate the power of the Enemy.
How would our prayer lives change if God became the center of our focus? What consumes most of your prayer time?
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A few months ago, I sat alone on my back patio with my Bible spewed open on my lap, with a cup of jo within arm’s reach. It was a time of solitude, which in Christian circles is referred to as a quiet time. As I sat there, breathing in the fresh air and taking in the utter beauty of singing birds and fluttering butterflies, I began conversing with God. One simple request kept floating through my mind:
“Lord, teach me to pray.”
Now, of course, I knew how to pray. Anyone can pray. But what I was really after was a desire to know God more. To know Him in such a way that my heart affections are emotionally stirred. To be able to sit still for a mere moment and hear His voice. To be more keenly aware of His presence in the reality of this thing called life.
I wanted to be moved by prayer.
I wanted to be changed by prayer.
I wanted to know God more.
What does your prayer life look like?
The book of Job is named after a man who suffered greatly. In one ordinary day, he lost everything. His livestock, his servants, and his ten children. Gone. Completely destroyed. In response, we see Job tear his clothing and shave his head as he begins the arduous process of mourning. Unfortunately, Satan isn’t finished reeking havoc and returns by inflicting Job with hideous, unbearable skin sores. His face was so disfigured that his closest friends did not readily recognize him and when they came closer, they fell to the ground in pity (Job 2:12). The pain was so excruciating, we see Job asking God to take his life (Job 3).
At this point in the story, his wife casts blame on God and urges her husband to do the same. Put yourself in her shoes. In one day you lose all of your babies who you nursed and held tightly in your arms. You become homeless without a single belonging to your name. You are hungry, forced to beg outside of the town dump. Riches to rags in a matter of minutes. Your worse nightmare becoming your new reality.
How would you respond?
Something extraordinary should be noted. In the midst of calamity and uncertainty, Job never turns away from God or denies His existence. We watch him wrestle with God in the midst of his suffering through prayer. We hear his complaints as he cries out to God for help. We can feel this man’s pain as we skim the pages.
As we ponder the book of Job, one must wonder, “Is it possible to love God and God alone? Is He truly all that I need?” Could I live without lattes and pedicures and an occasional shopping spree? Could I bear the thought of losing my home, and all of my financial security? Could I stand being ugly…to the point where no one even recognized me…or would I bow my head in shame and dismay? And what if I lost my family?
Would I still be able to say, “God, I love you more than anything?”
The only way Job survived such catastrophic events was by living a life of prayer. We watch his faith mature and his view of God expand in the book of Job. A man who once was filled with grumbling and complaining is moved to confession and repentance. A man who repeatedly makes his appeal before the Lord becomes overwhelmed in awe with the presence of God.
We see Job move away from merely a head knowledge of who God is towards a personal, intimate relationship. God is no longer someone Job only reads about in the books of the Law. God is someone Job personally knows and has experienced.
“My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.”
Job 42:5
Be encouraged…you CAN love God more than anything in this world! Our faith CAN deepen through the good and the bad.
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We drove up to school and as I glanced back through my rear view window, I noticed that his shirt is splattered with ketchup. My son. He loves ketchup. Red. Messy gunk. Smeared everywhere. It is considered a household staple.
We eat it at breakfast.
We eat it at lunch.
And for afternoon snack time.
I hope it is considered a vegetable. When we walk into Chikfila, they know us. They know my son wants 10 packs of ketchup and water. I know…it’s weird.
I had a decision to make. I could either turn around, head towards home, and get him a change of clothes. Of course, that would make everyone tardy. Or, he could go to school with a splattered red shirt.
I chose the splattered red shirt. After all, I am a mother of four. And no longer am I concerned that I won’t win the “Mother of the Year” award. It was a far-fetched idea from the onset. I’m okay that my kid’s socks don’t match and pants are worn backwards occasionally and shoes are tied in a tangled mess of knots. Teeth aren’t always brushed in the morning and their hair can be sorta snarly…but at least they know they are loved.
I apologize to the teachers of my kids in advance. They don’t always wear deodorant and smell like lilacs. They may even be missing a button. But today’s blog isn’t for teachers (who I do adore by the way)…it is for my mom friends who need to know they don’t have to be perfect.
Kids can be kids and we can enjoy them. Our houses don’t have to always be tidy. We can find smeared jelly under the couch cushion and smile because some little body calls this place home.
God has entrusted us with these little people who grow up way too fast and suddenly look more like giants.
“But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” 2 Timothy 1:12
Enjoy your kiddos today.
Give them a hug.
God has entrusted them to you with great purpose.
What lesson has God recently taught you through your kids?
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Her name is Petunia. I remember the first time I laid eyes on her during a trip to Haiti last summer. It was during a class that we were offering for the seniors living in the village. Why, you couldn’t help but notice her…her hands shook uncontrollably all of the time.
Turns out, her condition started three years prior and had worsened over time. No longer could she prepare a meal, or button her blouse, or do anything with her hands. The shaking was debilitating. She was unable to care for herself.
One of the young girls on our team tried to help her write her name. She tightly grasped Petunia’s hand, attempting to write a letter of the alphabet.
But it looked more like a scribbled mess.
About an hour later, some of the team members gathered in a circle around her and prayed earnestly for God to heal her hands. They believed God could answer their big prayer. They asked God for a miracle right then and there. I wonder how often we put limits on God. I wonder what holds us back from praying God-sized prayers.
Without seeing a result the first time, they petitioned again the following day. They didn’t give up. They persevered in prayer. Maybe you find yourself stuck right here. Frustrated that God isn’t coming through. Doubting He truly is a good God.
God promises us He will work all things together for good for those who called (Romans 8:28). We can trust that God will work our situation out for our good. We can know that when God’s answer is yes, it is according to His eternal plan. And when we don’t understand the no, we continue to persevere in prayer until our hearts are transformed. Ready and willing to surrender to God’s will.
For Petunia, her hands were completely healed.
And then we went home.
And doubt slowly crept right on in. Unknowingly taking residence in my heart. Were her hands really healed? Would the shaking stay away? Like Doubting Thomas, I wanted to see. I wanted to know with my own two hands.
“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” John 20:25
After my visit last week, I am happy to report…Petunia is still healed. Her hands are calm. She has been completely made well.
What could happen if we believed God still answers prayer? How would our lives be changed? What would we ask Him to do? Would we persevere?
Jesus answered Doubting Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27 (NIV)
I am praying for you today that you will believe God is working in your situation. That you will see His goodness. And that you will fight the fight, stand strong, and believe.
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As I stand in our driveway nonchalantly watching as my son swings nearby, I can’t help but notice my neighbor pull into the driveway in a brand spankin’ new car. It’s white and sparkling, not a dent anywhere. I can only imagine the clean smell emanating as you enter the door.
No french fries smashed on the seat.
No 10-day old juice boxes mysteriously glued to the door.
I find this feeling welling up…it is the longing for more. This unquenchable, dislikable taste in my soul. Oh Jesus, I want more.
I turn and I hear my kid screaming. I’m not really sure where things went awry. Somehow he managed to fall off the swing. Nothing much. Just a little wind knocked out of the boy. As I sit and try to console him, I realize that I can’t fully suffice. He will always have needs that arise. Oh Jesus, I want more.
The mailman pulls up to deliver our mail and I walk out to retrieve our daily load. Quickly skimming through the pile, I realize that it is just a bunch of bills. I hang my head down low and pray…Oh Jesus, I want more.
Then I hear a whisper.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
When our focus is consumed with earthly stuff, it quickly becomes dim. We get discouraged and downtrodden when we gaze on the things of this world. We lose sight of eternity and our hope in Jesus Christ. We see through dim, dark glasses when we don’t keep our eyes on Him.
When we can’t see Jesus working in our small, little worlds…we jump to the conclusion that He has left us, or forgotten our existence, or has bigger fish to fry. But God’s Word promises us that He is always near. He hears our cries and promises to be the Light of the World.
Even when we cannot see Him, Jesus is still there. This world is temporary…leaving us to want something more. The things we see now are fleeting, but the invisible God will always last. Put your trust in something bigger than you…nothing is dark to Him. Your problems. Your burdens. And troubles. Don’t worry, darkness is not too much for God.
“even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Ps. 139:12
I’m praying for you today that you will not be overcome. That your problems and troubles will not overwhelm you, because Jesus truly is the light of the world. When we walk with Him throughout our day, we begin to realize…everything is better when we keep an eternal perspective. He really is our more!
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I realize that Christmas has come and gone, but yet I find myself lingering. As I pack up the decorations and stack them away, I realize my house feels a bit empty. With no stockings all hung by the chimney with care and the nativity scene out of sight, I desire to cling to the memories in order to remind myself…Jesus is still right here.
It is a struggle to believe in an invisible God. A God who we cannot physically touch or see. It is a fight to keep living for Him amidst this world full of scoffers and doubters.
I wonder if Mary, the mother of Jesus, ever doubted God’s future promise. I wonder if she felt inadequate in spite of the words that were spoken over her.
“And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.” Luke 1:28-29
I wonder if she thought the calling was too great for her. Surely, she must have suffered. She faced rejection from her fiance and her family and friends…not to mention her entire community. To be pregnant and unwed must have hung a shadow of shame over her head; however, let us be reminded what God thinks of us matters more than the thoughts of man. Illegitimate. Pregnant. A crazy story. I wonder how many would believe?
“And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.” Luke 1:30-31
Mary would have the burden of raising the son of God, and bear the pain of watching him be crucified. It could not all make sense to her at this time. How could she become pregnant with the son of a divine God? But God, who is loving and caring and full of grace, gently reminds her who He is forevermore.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
So often in life we try to figure everything out. We want to have life go according to plan. But if we willingly lay our lives down and allow God to work mightily…I wonder how our lives would change in the new year. I wonder what could happen if we lived open-handed, accepting what God sends our way.
Mary’s final words that particular day should serve as a great example. And I pray that you and I will let God have his way in our lives as well.
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[f] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
Do you believe in the invisible enough to go forward in 2017 and live for it?
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I recently attended the Austin Symphony‘s concert of Handel’s Messiah and was blown away by the reminder of the birth of our Lord and Savior strewn throughout the pages of Scripture over 2,000 years ago.
Numerous writers.
Various generations.
Old Testament and New.
One author.
Whose name is God.
May you be blessed as you take a look at the mystery of Jesus unveiled long ago…
Handel’s Messiah
Comfort Ye
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God
Every Valley Shall be Exalted
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.
And the Glory of the Lord
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
Thus saith the Lord
For thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, it is a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
But who may abide the Day of His Coming?
But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
And He shall Purify
And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Behold, a Virgin shall Conceive
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
O thou that bringest good tidings to Zion, get thee up upon the high mountain; O thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah,
Behold your God!
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to Thy light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising.
The people that walked in darkness
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
For unto Us a Child is born
For unto Us a Child is born, unto Us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
There were shepherds abiding in the field
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
And , lo, the Angel of the Lord came
And, lo. the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the Angel said unto them
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And suddenly there was with the Angel
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Then shall the eyes of the blind
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
His yoke is easy
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Behold the lamb of God
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
He was despised
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Surely He hath borne our griefs
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
And with His stripes we are healed
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
All they that see him laugh him to scorn
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
He trusted in God
He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Thy rebuke has broken His heart
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.
He was cut off out of the land of the living
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
Unto which of the angels said He at any time
For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Let all the angels of God worship Him
And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Thou art gone up on high
Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
The Lord gave the word
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
How beautiful are the feet
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Their sound is gone out
But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Why do the nations so furiously rage together?
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed,
Let us break their bonds asunder
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that dwelleth in heaven
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision
Thou shalt break them
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel
Hallelujah
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.
I know that my redeemer liveth
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Since by man came death
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Behold I tell you a mystery
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shallall be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
The trumpet shall sound
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptable must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Then shall be brought to pass
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death where is thy sting?
O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But Thanks be to God
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If God be for us
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Worthy is the Lamb
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Amen
And Merry Christmas!
Love, Sue
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The news hit the waves of my radio station stating that a school teacher was required to take down her Charlie Brown Christmas poster.
Charlie Brown?
What’s the problem with Charlie Brown?
There must be more.
One of my favorite childhood memories is huddling around the t.v. alongside my brothers, cramped on the couch, chomping on popcorn and drinking hot cocoa while being glued to the Christmas edition of Charlie Brown. The iconic scene unfolds as Linus stands on the stage of their Christmas program reciting,
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown,”
A teacher with this great reminder was required to take it down. Apparently, we have forgotten that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. Over the course of time, we’ve seen Santa and snowmen and reindeer settle in, all nestled up to the fire. Christmas presents piling up beneath the tree. Dazzling light shows all aglow.
But Jesus has dwindled in our classrooms and gatherings. He no longer is the talk of the town. It makes me sad that we might be guilty, like the innkeeper, saying “There is no room in our inn.”
If we take Jesus out of Christmas, what are we left with?
Wrapping paper to be tossed in our trash piles and toys that will be broken within a few months. Extra pounds to work off in the New Year, due to our intake of chocolate fudge. Another memory to reminiscence about how our family members drove us all nuts.
Let’s be real honest…we need Jesus in our Christmas. He is the only thing with everlasting value. He is the hope of our tomorrow!
How do you keep Jesus the center of the Christmas season? What traditions do you have?
![I love listening to my kids pray. There is such a sweet tenderness found there. Our five-year-old son, Comerson, loves to pray and typically jumps right in at dinner time to let his prayer be known. “Dear God, thank you for Daddy, and Mommy, and Kade, and Avery, and Addie, and Luna [as he looks around the table at everyone sitting there]. And help me get a good nights sleep. And help me stay in my bed. And I not be scared. And thank you for food. And Spiderman. Amen.” Because of course, Spiderman needs our prayers. He has the entire city of New York to look out for. Clearly, he needs God's help!
It’s simple. It’s sincere. And it clearly correlates to the level of his knowledge about God. But as we grow in our knowledge of God, our prayer lives change. Our prayers become deeply rooted in the character of God. They become an intimate conversation. They become an open dialogue.
The Apostle Paul knew how to pray. He was a man with great boldness. Raised the dead. Healed the sick. Found that jail chains could not keep him bound. But his courageousness extended beyond himself & was rooted in and grounded in God. Look at his prayer for the church of Ephesus. Pay close attention. What did he want the people to know? Ephesians 1:15-19 (NIV) says, “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” Why do you think Paul would pray for the people of Ephesus to know God better? Why didn’t he pray for them to have bigger houses or name-brand clothes? Why is knowing God so important? Read more www.sueaallen.com.](https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/19052034_1972051493031681_5518727238113034240_n.jpg "I love listening to my kids pray. There is such a sweet tenderness found there. Our five-year-old son, Comerson, loves to pray and typically jumps right in at dinner time to let his prayer be known. “Dear God, thank you for Daddy, and Mommy, and Kade, and Avery, and Addie, and Luna [as he looks around the table at everyone sitting there]. And help me get a good nights sleep. And help me stay in my bed. And I not be scared. And thank you for food. And Spiderman. Amen.” Because of course, Spiderman needs our prayers. He has the entire city of New York to look out for. Clearly, he needs God's help!
It’s simple. It’s sincere. And it clearly correlates to the level of his knowledge about God. But as we grow in our knowledge of God, our prayer lives change. Our prayers become deeply rooted in the character of God. They become an intimate conversation. They become an open dialogue.
The Apostle Paul knew how to pray. He was a man with great boldness. Raised the dead. Healed the sick. Found that jail chains could not keep him bound. But his courageousness extended beyond himself & was rooted in and grounded in God. Look at his prayer for the church of Ephesus. Pay close attention. What did he want the people to know? Ephesians 1:15-19 (NIV) says, “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” Why do you think Paul would pray for the people of Ephesus to know God better? Why didn’t he pray for them to have bigger houses or name-brand clothes? Why is knowing God so important? Read more www.sueaallen.com.")
