Category: Relationship

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He’s Not Mad

As the year comes to a close many become introspective; examining their lives over the past year. They also become determined to make changes; to improve themselves in the coming year. Part of the self-examination is letting go of bitterness and also making amends with those who have been hurt.

Religion, man’s idea of how God is, tries to tell us that we have failed God and that He is angry with us. Maybe you’ve grown up with that concept of God, maybe you think there is nothing you can do to please Him so why try.

The angels message on the night when Jesus was born is this, “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” Jesus came to show us how greatly God loves us. His whole life was spent doing good and displaying the compassion and unconditional love of the Father.

Jesus ended the war between God and man. God judged our sin by placing it on Jesus and He paid the price. He was convicted, found guilty and punished with death for crimes (Sin) He didn’t do. Our spiritual indebtedness was Paid in Full.

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.” John 16:7-11 NLT

The Holy Spirit corrects people who don’t believe that Jesus was and is God’s Son and He is the sacrifice for our sins. He shows us that we are made righteous (in right standing) through relationship with Christ and that God’s judgment belongs to satan and those that follow him.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.” II Corinthians 5:17-18 CEV

New Year’s Eve is one of the prime times that people are plagued with depression and loneliness. It is our job to tell them that God has made a way of “peace” for them through Christ. The good news that was proclaimed in the angels’ message is still true. Peace on earth, good will to me.

I am doing my job of bringing this good news to you. I hope you will share it too.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT

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The Gift of Love

At last night’s Christmas Eve service we were encouraged to let the love of Jesus flow through us in a special way today. We were reminded that more than likely we will be sitting around the table with someone who is annoying. There’s one in every family, right?

The truth of the matter is this – I could be the annoying one, so could you!

We rarely see our own faults; it’s always someone else who has the problem. But the way God saw it, we all had a problem and were in need of a Savior. Christ didn’t come for some; no, He came to bring new life and love to us all.

A world changing event transpired over 2000 years ago when the sky was filled with an angelic chorus. A baby was born and He affected the whole human race by introducing unconditional love in human flesh. He came to reconcile us to the perfect and merciful Father God.

We all have a few rough edges and annoying habits, but praise God, He looked past those things and brought us unconditional love which will change our hearts if we let Him.

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” John 13:34-35 ERV

My prayer for you and your families this morning is that you know Him personally and that you have allowed Him to change your life. His love is transforming; we can’t be in relationship with the Lord and not be changed.

I was challenged last night. I don’t want to be the one who is annoying. I want to be the one who loves, unconditionally, the annoying people of my world because God chose to love me in spite of my faults.

I’m taking a little extra time in prayer this morning. “Lord, let me be the best me, the me you created me to be. Let me reach the world with Your love.” There’s no better gift we can give to others than the gift of unconditional love that God gave to us.

Merry Christmas from the Wilson’s casa to yours!

“This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love each other as he commanded. 24 All who obey God’s commands live in God. And God lives in them. How do we know that God lives in us? We know because of the Spirit he gave us.” I John 3:23-24 ERV

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Hear The Bells

At Christmas time we hear a lot of bells; there are songs about sleigh bells, jingle bells, carol of the bells, church bells, silver bells…

I have an ornament on my tree that is a glass bell with a little angel as the clapper. Every time someone touches the tree the bell rings. George Bailey, from It’s a Wonderful Life, would say another angel got its wings.

But, why the bells?

I think it has to do with church history. Traditionally, it was a way of communication long ago. Town events would be marked by the sound of the bells. The bells would warn of danger, announce good news, call all the towns folk together to help with something urgent like a fire.

But, why the bells?

I went to the Bible. It’s a very good place to go for answers. I only found a few Scripture verses about bells and most of them are in the same book.

“Use blue, purple, and red yarn to make cloth pomegranates. Hang these pomegranates around the bottom edge of the robe, and hang gold bells between the pomegranates. 34 So around the bottom edge of the robe there should be bells and pomegranates. There should be a bell following each pomegranate. 35 Aaron will wear this robe when he serves as a priest. The bells will ring as Aaron goes into the Holy Place to stand before the Lord, and the bells will ring as he leaves the Holy Place. This way Aaron will not die.” Exodus 28:32-35 ERV

This is the instruction for the design of the robe the priest would wear in the Tabernacle. Bells were worn on the hem of the robe of the chief priest. He was the only one who was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. This is the place he met with God and the jingling bells were an audible sign that he was walking with God.

After Jesus came He made a way where we all can come boldly to God’s throne and find help when we need it. We have been given the right to walk with God, without fear, welcomed by our loving Father.

“With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

Let me encourage you to make some noise this Christmas season. Let the bells ring as you walk with your family and your neighbors. Let them hear the bells ringing the good news that Immanuel, God with us, is here!

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A Trip To Remember

A good portion of the country is having really bad weather – the snow, sub zero temperatures – yuk! I remember those days. A friend posted their first day of winter temperature, -40.

When we lived in Montana we always had to look at the weather report, consider any possible storms and plan accordingly. Most anywhere we went we would have three mountain passes to go over and winter travelling could be treacherous. Several times we had drives of the “white knuckle” variety. I have been so thankful for Dave’s excellent driving skills and the Lord’s hand of protection.

But what must the weather have been like travelling to Bethlehem all those years ago?

I know it wouldn’t have been sub zero but it can get cold in the desert regions. Was there rain? Ladies, imagine this, you’re nine months pregnant, riding a donkey, and sleeping under the stars. Regardless of the weather, it may have been perfect, that’s not the time you want to try out the new tent and sleeping bags you just got from BassPro, right?

What was Mary thinking, this was certainly a “memory maker”? Did the trip effect her disposition? What questions did this young woman have, afterall it was her first pregnancy? Was there an older, more experienced Mom travelling with them?

“So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box. 17 When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child. 18 Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.” Luke 2:16-19 ERV

As a mother, I sit here this morning remembering different Christmas mornings with my children and grandchildren. I pray that the significance of that first Christmas morning stays as the focal point in their lives long after I am gone.

There aren’t enough words of gratitude to express my heart’s joy over the events of that first Christmas morning and how it changed my life.

Thank you Father for loving me enough to give me the gift of Your Son and a relationship of eternal life that first Christmas day.

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Worth Bragging About

All of us who are parents like to do special things for our kids. We want life to be the best for them. I take time to make their favorite cookies, prepare that special meal, and find little treasures that I know will show them just how special they are. Dave is always in his shop making things out of wood or leather for them. It’s what we do to show our love.

In that way, we are like our Father. He is the most loving, caring, compassionate being in the universe. No one can compare to Him. From eternity past to eternity future He has planned to lavish us with the gifts of His love.

“You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” Ephesians 2:8-9 CEV

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

I remember one year when I was little my parents gave me a rocking horse for Christmas. Everyone that came to our home got to see the rocking horse, it was special. As I got older I realized that buying that present was a real sacrifice. I didn’t brag on what a good kid I was and how much I deserved it, instead on bragged on how great my folks were for giving me such a great present.

For all eternity, Jesus and the Father have been talking about us in heaven. Talking about how much they love us and how much they desire a relationship with us. They want to talk with us daily, to share their thoughts and their love with us the way a Father does with His children. So they came up with a plan…

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us. 9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger. 10 I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life. 11 And not only will we be saved, but we also rejoice right now in what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we are now God’s friends.” Romans 5:8-11 CEV

We are God’s friends and we have been adopted by the Father. He calls us His children. He gave us a wonderful gift, an incomparable gift. A gift worth bragging on – the gift of Jesus and eternal life. Tell someone about it!

Merry Christmas Father!! Merry Christmas Jesus!! Merry Christmas Holy Spirit!! Thank you for this wonderful gift.

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“With” Is Better

Where are you going today? Doing anything special? I always find that even the mundane is more fun when I have someone along to share it with. Yesterday, Dave and I had lots of errands to run and we enjoyed it more because we were “with” each other.

We are never alone even in the dullest or most difficult moments. We have a promise that God is with us. That’s what His name means:

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].” Isaiah 7:14 AMP

Immanuel, God with us!

God came to walk with Adam in the cool of the day; then He came and walked and talked with Abraham and Moses, David and Daniel, Enoch and Elijah, you and me. God loves being with His people. It’s only fitting that one of His names should mean God with us. That was His goal – to have relationship with us, to walk and talk with us, friend to friend, Father to child.

Do you recall the first time your child didn’t want you around? I remember hearing our toddlers say “I do this”. It was cute but then when they were in their teens, they got too big to need my presence or it wasn’t cool to have their folks hanging out with them. It hurt. I can only imagine how much it must hurt the Father when we exclude Him from our activities, not wanting Him around, taking the attitude “I’ve got this”.

He’ll let us try to handle things, sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail but He’s always there. He never leaves us alone – that’s who He is, that’s what He does.

“God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.” Hebrews 13:5b ERV

Friends may come and go; relationships change. Death may separate us from the ones we love. But the Lord will be with us forever and when we have Him, He takes care of the rest.

What’s on your list of things to do today?

Take Him along. Lunch with a friend, bring the extra guest. Need some down time, the two of you can sit quietly together, after all He IS Immanuel! He’ll be excited you’ve included Him in your plans.

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God Overlooks Our Reputation

How do you see yourself today? Are you someone who has struggled most of your life with relationships and careers? Do others look down on you because of your education or lack thereof? Maybe you’ve done some stupid stuff and it has caused people not to trust you or you’ve wounded and broken relationships.

Many years ago, there were some shepherds out on a hillside watching their sheep. Shepherds had a poor reputation in their society. They were considered the lowest of the blue collar workers, rogues, and liars, but God… God saw them as men who would be faithful to spread the message that His Son had been born!

“In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! 15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. 17 After seeing [them], they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.” Luke 2:8-20

God was willing to use the shepherds and He’s willing to use us too. He sees the best in each of us and gives us opportunities to use what He’s placed in us to touch others. God, the Father, has a message and a plan for each life. Let’s follow the example of the shepherds and go tell somebody what God has done. It’s a wonderful message about a wonderful life.

Thank you Father for your love!

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Loving Parents Are a Gift

This morning I was thinking about Mary and Joseph’s parents. Nothing is written in Scripture about them except that Joseph’s father was named Jacob (Matthew 1). But there are some things that we can assume about them and their character because of what we see in their children.

Mary’s parents must have been godly people; teaching their children the Scriptures and the prophesies of the coming of the Messiah. They also must have given their children good moral guidelines for their lives. Mary knew of the stories of a Messiah that would come because she wasn’t completely confused when the angel appeared to her. She also knew Jewish law said that a woman who had sexual relations outside of marriage should be stoned and so when she found herself with child she went to see her cousin Elizabeth for three months.

When Mary returned home she was “found” with child. What would her parents do? Her “condition” brought the entire family under criticism. Would they turn their daughter over to the proper authorities for judgment or would they love and protect her in spite of her circumstances?

Let’s look at Joseph’s family for a minute. Mary is engaged to Joseph when she is “found” to be with child. I can imagine Joseph’s father coming to him and saying “Son, you’ve disgraced the entire family. You’ve ruined the family business – no one will come to us for carpentry any longer. How could you have done such a thing?”

Joseph knows he isn’t the father of Mary’s baby. Who is? God tells Joseph it will be ok. She, Mary, is pregnant by divine means and the child she is carrying is the Messiah! WOW!!! He, too, has to have knowledge of the Scriptures for this to be a concept that he can embrace.

Both Mary and Joseph’s parents had to be a support for them because the rest of the community surely was criticizing and ridiculing at every turn. As parents, they knew they had raised their children correctly, raised them in the Scriptures and to love God! They must have prayed with them and for them since they were tiny and now it was time to show the unconditional love and support that their children needed.

What an example to us as parents today! We’ve raised our kids to know right from wrong; to know what honors and dishonors God. We, as parents, must learn from our heavenly Father. He loves us when we are unlovely; He forgives us and restores us when we fail; He is always seeking to have relationship with us even when we don’t want His advice or to be influenced by His knowledge. And He never loses faith in us, He never writes us off. Father God instructs us, He corrects us but most importantly He always loves us!

“God our Father loves us. He is kind and has given us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope. We pray that our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father 17 will encourage you and help you always to do and say the right thing.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 CEV

May we be parents who always encourage and help and love as the Father has loved us!

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Open House – Open Heart

Growing up our Mom always had an Open House at Christmas. We didn’t live around family so she would bake and then invite our friends to just drop in for a while and spend part of their Christmas with us. I have some wonderful memories of playing with childhood friends, the smell of baking cookies coming from the kitchen and the laughter that filled the air.

When I grew up and had a home of my own, I continued the Christmas Open House tradition because I love entertaining and filling our home with the love and laughter of friends. Someone told me once that my love language is baking. It makes me happy to package up the freshly baked cinnamon rolls and give them to friends and neighbors.

Christmas can be a lonely and depressing time for some. Missing a loved one, being far from home…so many reasons. Think of that first Christmas night when God’s Son came to earth; it was separation for both Father and Son.

Now here’s the good news!

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].” Isaiah 7:14 AMP.

Immanuel, God with us, even when we are by ourselves, we’re not alone! God with us, He has promised to never leave us or forsake us…God with us! When we open our heart, He makes it His home.

So this year if your home is filled with family and friends or quiet and only you, remember God came to join us. His presence will certainly fill both heart and home. Invite Him in.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 NLT

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Copy, Cut, Paste

Copy, Cut, Paste. It is a computer basic that has become second nature to most of us. One that my husband likes a lot. You know the concept was God’s idea.

“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind…27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:25-27 KJV

God created us to be like Him – to be His representative, His counterpart on the earth. But when Adam sinned our nature was changed. God had to put a plan in place that would restore our relationship with Him.

Enter Jesus.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:17-19 KJV

In Christ, we become new – a new creature – like the one that God created in the Garden. Jesus restored us to our place of being created in God’s likeness. He copies and pastes the origin blueprint into our hearts.

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)…8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10 ERV

In Christ we have been made new. It’s not something we work to earn but something we receive freely by grace. Salvation and restoration to a loving relationship with the Father God has been His plan from the beginning.

Since Christmas will be here in a couple of weeks, I give you permission to open the best gift you will ever receive – the gift of salvation, of renewed life and relationship with the Father.

Open it now and share it with others!

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