Thursday, December 27, 2012

A Christmas reflection from "His Kindness Year Round"

Christmas is past and 2013 is rapidly approaching . . .

A couple of weeks ago at my parent's house, I unintentionally found a Bible from my pre and early teen years (The Children's Living Bible).  It was in God's pure divine timing I found this Bible.  The scripture is reader friendly for a teen to comprehend, yet also extremely accurate (not in story form, but actual scripture).  Just a couple of days before I found this Bible, the Lord led me to read the book of Luke.  It has been a treat to read it in my newly found Bible!

On Christmas Eve, as I began to read Luke, chapter 2, I reached for the Children's Bible.  My thoughts went back to earlier years.  In the Christmas story, it seems most kids wanted to be a majestic wise man or beaming angel or the key roles of Mary or Joseph. 

I always wanted to be a shepherd, keeper of the sheep.  I wanted to be the first to whom the angels announced the birth of our Savior. 

Luke 2:14 "'Glory to God in the highest heaven,' they sang, 'and peace on earth for all those pleasing Him.'"

The shepherds, messengers to the others of the birth of Jesus.

Luke 2:17 "The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child."

The shepherds, praising God for seeing the baby in a manger and for their visit by angels. 

Luke 2:20 "Then the shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, praising God for the visit of the angels, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had told them."

I trust your Christmas was bright, as you celebrated the birth of our Savior; as you told others about Him; and as you praised God, the Most High, just as the shepherds years ago!

Prayerfully, your sister in Him,

Robin

(Scripture from The Children's Living Bible)

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Prayers and Gratitude from "His Kindness Year Round"

Blessings to you today!

Last Friday, our nation witnessed a mammoth tragedy.  The long term results of the event are beyond measure. 

I am sincerely delighted to see the out pour of love and support from our country – from financial support to prayers.  On a smaller scale, it reminds me of September 11, 2001. 

That tragic crime over a decade ago brought this nation together as one.  Our patriotism as these united states soared immensely.  Support in the form of prayers and references to the love and protection of our Savior were phenomenal.  I hoped our nation was, indeed, becoming one nation, under God.

Psalm 133:1 “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!”

Unfortunately, as time lapsed, so did the spiritual acknowledgement from our people.

After a conversation last week with a dear friend who holds the same sentiments as I share, I wrote:  

“I am very grateful to see the prayers being lifted for the community of Newtown, CT during this horrific tragedy. It would be wonderful to see prayers lifted daily, in praise and thanksgiving, for all the good things in life, too.”

I genuinely am thrilled at the response of prayers being offered to our God for the community of Newtown.  I hope the unity of prayer to our Heavenly Father is long standing.  Every day, during times of calm seas and during times of choppy oceans, we should talk to our Father.  It’s okay to speak our needs because God wants us to tell Him what’s in our heart, but if you look back at the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:9 reads, “This, then, is how you should pray:  ‘Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name”.  In other words, acknowledge His holiness – His splendor – thank Him – PRAISE Him – love Him!  Every day should have some time of praise to our Father.  When someone converses with us on a regular basis, we want to hear about the bright moments and days as well as the trials and needs.  As I seem to recite quite frequently the past month -- Praise GOD from whom all blessings flow and to Him be the glory for great things He has done!  If today isn’t your merriest, still praise our Him.  Apparently you can be thankful for your eyesight, as you are able to read this blog . . . .

Psalm 31:21 “Praise the Lord, for He has shown me His unfailing love.”

Psalm 86:12 “With all my heart I will praise You, Oh Lord, my God.  I will give glory to Your name forever.”

My heartfelt prayers to Newtown and our nation.

(If you have not had the opportunity to hear Mike Huckabee’s three minute video about his thoughts on Newtown, CT, it’s definitely worth listening to.  You can find it on YouTube, his website, or on face book.)  

Prayerfully, with gratitude, your sister in Him,

Robin

(Coming soon in January -- the second annual "Be Extra Kind to Someone Day" . . . . !)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

A Week before the Celebration from His Kindness Year Round!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

It's difficult to believe Christmas is just a week away. 
  
Years ago, the question was asked of me – If Christmas represents the celebration of the birth of Jesus, why don’t we ever have a birthday cake for Him?

As I was pondering this, thinking of the “usual” Christmas traditions of this season – Christmas trees and lights and ornaments and sending cards and giving gifts (don’t forget wrapping also) and singing carols and togetherness with friends and family and stockings and candy canes and wise men and shepherds and angels and Mary, Joseph, and the babe in swaddling clothes and then there is Santa and reindeer and etc. . . . . why have I never baked a birthday cake for our Redeemer?

It was my dear husband, Lee, who had asked me this question, almost twenty years ago.  Since that time, I have baked a birthday cake for Jesus every year.  Along with all the Christmas season goodies and desserts on December 25, there is now a birthday cake also. 

I know if there were a celebration in heaven for the Son of God, I’m sure Lee would be in the midst of it each year, since that first December in 2005.  Celebrating the birth of the Savior with the Savior!  My mind can't even imagine this sort of jubilation!

This year, Happy Birthday cake for Jesus will be a Chocolate Chip Cake, with powdered sugar sprinkled on top . . . . . .

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

We love you!

Please remember the true reason of the season, and praise, glorify, honor and celebrate Jesus!

Luke 2:8-16 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Prayerfully, your sister in Him!

Robin



Thursday, December 13, 2012

Singing a Psalm from "His Kindness Year Round"

Merry Christmas season!

Psalm 23:1a “The Lord is my Shepherd”

Several weeks ago, I began to silently recite the 23rd Psalm.  I kept getting ‘stuck’ on the first verse.  I could almost hear David playing his lyre and singing the Psalms.

“The Lord is my Shepherd” . . . . that means I am a sheep.  He knows His sheep by name and cares for us above the highest level possible to man.  He protects, guards, and keeps us safe.

As I repeated the verse . . . . the Lord is MY shepherd.  Not A shepherd -- but MY shepherd. The sheep know the voice of a shepherd.  They (we) are somewhat helpless and can’t take care of themselves well.  Sometimes they can’t find their own pastures or water. Sheep are very dependent on the shepherd, and good shepherds never leave their sheep alone. God knows each of us -- loves us for who we are. At the cross, the Good Shepherd gave up His life for his lambs.

As I continued to recite the rest of the Psalm, I was reminded of the greatness of our God . . . .

His provision in all situations;

His comfort in all circumstances; 

His guidance as He leads, giving us His Word as a guide book and the Holy Spirit as a guide; 

His restoration of our souls;

His walk with us, through the shadows, to the Light;

His offering of faith over any fear;

His supply of a rod to protect us and a cane-like staff to keep us from going astray;

His bounteous table set before us in front of our enemies -- a table of health and joy and peace and strength and purpose and love and victory;

His honor of anointing us, His chosen ones, with oil;

All this, as He overflows our cups . . . . not running out of mercy or grace or hope or love, welcoming us into His Kingdom;

His goodness and mercy following us;

As we “will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 

John 14:2-3 “In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” 

2 Corinthians 1:3 "All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us."

1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever."

As His child, He will personally take you with Him to His eternal home.  God will be with you on earth, through pain and illness and suffering and trials and grief and fatigue and fear and disappointment and loneliness and dark days -- we are with Him. Before you were born, He had already claimed you and reserved your room in heaven -- a room with your name on it. Life on this earth IS temporary.  We are here for a short time in comparison to our home in eternity.  Live preparing for your heavenly home.

Take time in this busy season to enjoy the Good Shepherd today!

Prayerfully, your sister sheep in Him,

Robin