Comfort and Joy

"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you . . . " ~Isaiah 66:13(a)

"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." ~Luke 2:10-11

Christmas, comfort and joy ~ seems as though they were made to go together, doesn't it? These are what God gave to His people when He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to us as the world's first Christmas present.

Comfort ~ in that we can have the assurance of God's love as our Parent. He will be with us through thick or thin. His Word offers us the best of all parental advice.

Joy ~ in answering His call to accept Jesus as our Savior and receiving the ultimate gift of eternal life with God, our Father. Joy in being adopted as God's child. And joy in knowing that our many sins have been forgiven. 

At Christmas-time, comfort and joy can conjure images of a watching fluffy snowflakes falling outside our window while sipping hot chocolate beside a fire in our warm, cozy home. That's all well and good; but to a Christian, God's comfort and joy is both internal and eternal.  They are gifts that no box can contain, no bow could be lovely enough to decorate. They are gifts that are held in our hearts, miraculously multiplied as more and more people accept the Christmas Gift of Jesus Christ.

We live at a time when so many people need the true comfort and joy of Jesus. Be prepared to share the Gift this Christmas.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Out of Service...

It may be a couple of days until I'm back. When you work at a place where so many sick people come in and breath, sigh, cough & sneeze in your face & then hand you their dirty money ~ you are bound to pick something up from them. I have been buried in my favorite quilt on the couch for the last few days with Maggie snuggled beside me, a stack of old Christmas DVDs and lots of hot tea and chicken soup. So . . . until I feel better I'll be using as many of my home remedies as I can. :-)

Until then . . . please pray for those touched so deeply by the Newtown, CT tragedy.

Back soon . . . 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Treasuring Up All These Things

"The angel answered, . . . 'So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'" ~Luke 1:35

"'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 [the shepherds] will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger' . . . 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 . . . But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." ~Luke 2:11-12, 16-17, 19

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." ~Matt. 5:8

This time of year, we watch wonderful movies about the birth of Jesus and it always seems that, as much as they try to make it real for us, they usually have a woman in her 20's or 30's playing Jesus' mother, Mary. Even the faces of most mantle-top Nativity scenes portray Mary as an older women. In reality, Mary was only about 13-15 years old.

Mary was just past what many would term "a little girl." She was barely in her teens. Why did God choose such a young girl as the mother of His Son? Possibly because girls married so much younger back then and the Savior's mother HAD to be physically pure; but could it have also been that a young Jewish girl ~ raised with oral Jewish tradition always on someone's lips ~ would take God at His word? That while listening to the stories, that she had treasured up the things of God in her heart? That she would believe and not doubt? 

I think that Mary had to not only be physically pure, but she still had to have that purity of heart ~ the trust and faith of what was left of the child within her. When a child trusts, they hold what is said in their heart. So, when she heard, Mary held the words of the angel in her heart ~ the safest, purest part of herself ~ and God knew that she would. 

Christmas is such a time of wonder and child-likeness and it touches the heart of all Christians. Maybe the reason why we often say that "we have Jesus in our heart" is because, at Christmas-time, we let ourselves become like children again and God reminds us to treasure all the things of Jesus' miraculous birth inside the safest, purest part of ourselves: our heart.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

The Simple Women's Daybook ~#173~ 12/10/12

For today . . . 

Outside my window . . . grey skies, cold winds, rain. Possible snow flurries tonight. I'm ready for real snow.

I am thinking . . . that I can't believe we are so close to CHRISTmas. Where has this year gone?

I am thankful . . . for a warm, cozy home on this cold, cold day.

From the kitchen . . . reuben sandwiches.

I am wearing . . . jeans, navy blue turtle-neck shirt, grey cardigan sweater.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, CHRIST-centered home.

I am going . . . to run some errands.

I am wondering . . . when & how?

I am hoping . . . soon.

I am reading . . . the Celtic Folklore Cooking cookbook.

I am looking forward to . . .Wednesday.

I am learning . . . that "necessity is the mother of invention."

Around the house . . . general pick-up & cleaning, putting out a few more CHRISTmas decorations that are not yet out.

One of my favorite things . . . our CHRISTmas tree.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, worship practice, gift shopping . . .

A favorite quote for the day . . . "Well, isn't this just a geographical oddity? Two weeks away from everywhere!" - Everett from O Brother Where Art Thou. I crack up every time I watch this.

Scripture thought . . . "I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are My servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand . . . I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand." ~Isaiah 41:9,10; 42:6(a) God is active & attentive in our lives.


A picture thought for you . . . 

Lunch with my DEAR long-time friend, Ellen. 

Love you, girl !

Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Women's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><        

Season of Friends

I am blessed with dear friends. I had a Christmas lunch with my dear friend, Ellen, from school days. Wish we could see each other more often . . . but life happens.

Love you, El.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#75~ Christmas...the Weary World Rejoices

"O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; 
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining;
Till He appeared and the soul felt it's worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, 
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!" ~O Holy Night; Dwight and Adam

"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice . . . Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, 'The LORD reigns!' Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Them the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD . . . " ~I Chron. 15:10, 31-33

"'I tell you,' He replied, 'if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'" ~Luke 19:40

To say the least, I am not a "tree-hugger," although I do enjoy God's wonderful creation. I grew up camping, hiking, learning Indian lore from my grandpa, learning about the signs for weather or an animal's disposition from clues that they will give . . . 

Did you know if you see a "ring" around the moon it will rain or snow within 24 hours? Did you know that when doves coo it will rain within 24 hours? Did you know that you can count the chirps of crickets and get an accurate temperature*? The Lord has not only written Himself into nature, but He used it to illustrate many Biblical lessons.

But to realize those lessons, you have to be looking to see. And 2,000 years ago, there was little band of shepherds who were looking. 

They lived in a time of great national unrest while performing a job that required them to be aware of both creation and the nature of animals.  They lived in a time when when everyday could bring the long-expected Messiah and everyone was looking for a sign. Those lowly, weary shepherds had no idea that they would be the ones to be the first to see.

While watching the sky for weather signs and listening to the sounds of the night to make sure predators were not after their sheep ~ they saw! They heard! An angel of the Lord told them that the time they had waited for had arrived and God's creation would lead the way!

Those weary shepherds and their lowly flock, the stars looking down from the sky and the animals who shared a humble stable with a frightened young couple, were the first to see . . . 

. . . And the weary world rejoices. 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><  

*Count the cricket's chirps for 15 seconds, add 39. EX: 30 chirps + 39 = 69 degrees 

 

The Simple Woman's Daybook ~#172~ 12/3/12

For Today . . . 

Outside my window . . . cool, grey, the sun struggling to peek out.

I am thinking . . . that this day has flown by.

I am thankful . . . for my testimony. I wouldn't want to relive most of it, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, & His grace to me was not w/out effect" ~I Cor. 15:10

From the kitchen . . . hamburger. Simple lunch.

I am wearing . . . jeans, red hoodie.

I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.

I am going . . . to work; the late shift. Just as the rest of the family comes home. :-/

I am wondering . . . what is in store.

I am hoping . . . that the new year will more than simply surviving.

I am reading . . . "A Patriot's History of the United States."

I am looking forward to . . . Wednesday.

I am learning . . . to trust myself.

Around the house . . . general pick-up; putting up Christmas decorations.

One of my favorite things . . . church.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, Christmas preparation, church.

A favorite quote for the day . . . "1) Life is not fair. 2) People are crazy. 3) No matter how unfair life is or how crazy people are, love must be the bottom line." ~Advice from an elder pastor to a young pastor. Notes from my Sunday sermon.

Scripture thought . . . "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." ~Colossians 3:14

A picture thought for you . . . 

Our great-nephews, Bayle & Chayse Wolf (our nephew's sons), are now on the Ohio State Div. IV football champions!!! They play for Clinton-Massie High School. Bayle (#15) ran for 220 yards & made 5 touchdowns! They are both, stellar young men ~ we love them & are very proud of them. Congratulations, boys!

^

Bayle

Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><