A Branch for Christmas: the richest gift of all

Posted by Christy

“The days are coming”, declares the LORD, “when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. “In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line”; he will do what is just and right in the land.

God’s grace-filled promise is paid in full in Jesus Christ- the Righteous Branch. He came with a journey of love to carry out and He did it, and did it well….righting wrongs, and bringing justice for all who receive Him.

Grace: giving us what we don’t deserve. I don’t know about you, but I certainly have done nothing to deserve this kind of love and sacrifice.

God’s promise is true for my salvation and also just as true for my daily life. In all things (all means all) God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8).

“In those days and at that time”….God knows what’s going on with you and me. Believe that God will swoop right in at the right time and work for your good. I ask again, do you really think God would love us enough to send His Son to die for us, and not care for us in our daily life? What would be the point? What about that would make us eager to serve Him? No, He’s all about the details of our lives. We just over look Him and aren’t listening for His voice.

There’s a power of God that you and I can’t even imagine, and that power is at work in us, for us and through us

This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior…..a King born to die….let’s remember that His love for us is consuming, overwhelming, never ending, awesome, and huge. He brought salvation to us, and He also brought an invitation….a front row seat to allow Him to work in us, for us and through us in such powerful ways.

What a mighty and loving God we serve!

Thank You, Lord for our Christmas Branch….a Branch for Christmas is the richest gift of all!

Walk in loving power, and at the edge of your seats with the King.

What’s In A Name?

Posted by Christy

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God. (John 1:9-12)

Jesus, the only true light….the only path to eternity….came. Though offered to everyone, not everyone recognizes Him for who He is as Savior. Those who do become children of God.

Through every situation, Jesus is offered as my hope daily…..minute by minute….and no matter the situation. Do I recognize Him? Do I recognize His work on my behalf?

He’s my Savior! Do I really think He’s going to love me enough to die for me, and then leave me to stumble through? No, He’s not a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy! He said He’d never leave me and I believe Him.

He’s my hope and my salvation and there’s power in that name

Call out to Him. Try it. There’s power in that name.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Lord, thank You for the hope and salvation we have in you! I sit at the edge of my seat watching for You in my life. May it ever be so! Thank You that You came and that You keep coming every day in every thing.

When Division = Multiplication

Posted by Christy

“Bring them here to me,” (Matthew 14:18)

I love this story in Matthew 14:14-21. Jesus had spent hours teaching and ministering to the people. It was around 3:00 pm and well passed lunch time. The disciples were concerned that they were out in a remote place with nowhere for the people to go and get food. The Bible says 5,000 men. Traditional calculations say around 15,000 when you include women and children (How would you like that kind of crowd popping in unannounced this Thanksgiving?).

The people just couldn’t leave. They were surely hungry, but it was another kind of appetite they needed satisfied.

The disciples saw things as getting desperate and were worried about the outcome. Jesus said, “they don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

God wants to do the supernatural, and He wants us believe for it too

They were still thinking too small…..all we have are these five loaves of bread, and two measly fish.

We do that too!

Daddy says, I’m here….cast your cares on Me….I go before you…..I go behind you….no weapon formed against you will prosper….I have plans to prosper you…..I give you the Comforter….I give you my Son….you’re in the palm of my hand….I divide the seas…..I raise people from the dead….bring fire from heaven……create something out of nothing….and I’ve got this too

Sometimes things seem impossible. We’ve tried in our own strength and we’re still not seeing the big picture.

Daddy says, “Bring them to me.”

When a child has a broken toy, and tinkers away for a while trying to fix it, Daddy says, “Bring that to me.” What the child has put so much effort into attempting to do seems so effortless now as Daddy fixes it with ease.

Jesus says, “Bring them here to me”

“Them”

those issues
that mess…
your brokenness…
that marriage…
that potential man/woman…or lack thereof…
that job…or lack thereof…
your family…
that past…
that child that has stepped away from the church…
that situation you just can’t seem to forgive…
that situation you just can’t seem to get forgiveness for…
all…..them ALL
Bring them all to Him

And don’t hesitate at the multiple problems….”them” is plural….take it ALL

Jesus told them to sit down. Bring them to me and sit down—-I’ve got this…..sit down and rest while I do my thing.

Then…..and don’t miss this….Jesus broke the bread, and then it multiplied!

Did you catch it? Multiplication happens out of brokenness!

It’s when that thing breaks me–when I let it go–take it to Him–and sit it out–and let Him work–that His blessing multiplies

Whatever measly things we have….whatever seems hopeless, or too big…..take it to your Daddy first. He’s reaching for you and asking you to Bring them to Him. Obey. Take it to Him and sit down and watch Him do His thing.

Happy Thanksgiving from all the gang here! We love you all and pray abundant blessings for you, your family, your calling, your church, your work. This office will be closed through Monday. Give everyone great big hugs as you celebrate and enjoy Thanksgiving together.

Walk closely with the King!
Love,
Christy

Full Tank: He Holds No Good Thing

Posted by Christy

This is our “Thank Tank”

It’s a wonderful container that I got as a gift and turned into a thank tank years ago when my children, who are now 23 (next week) and 18, were very young. The card I placed in the top says,

“Thank Tank”
That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever (Psalm 30:12)

And this poem:
Consider what the Lord has done for you and those you love; then give Him thanks with hearts of praise for blessings from above

It’s been filled with lots and lots of notes. Personal ones that are only for God. These notes are written by my family and countless other people who have been in our home over the years. Small groups. Teenagers spending the weekend for a youth group function. Traveling choirs filled with strangers that come and fill my home to the brim. Grown ups as we talk and praise God for His goodness.

So many memories of year round teaching groups of girls, and guys and seeing them grab the empty pages and write their hearts on them

This tank is full of thanks to Him for blessings passed, and blessings coming. Hopes confirmed by seeing His hand, and hopes confirmed by the promise of His hand.

This year finds me in the same place. I look back over the years and see His victorious hand through many, many, MANY hard things. The joy in the many, many, MANY wonderful things. And just like in Matthew 14:20, when the disciples took the remnants of the blessed miracle of feeding the 5,000 men into their future, I take mine and give thanks for all He has done, is doing, and will do.

God is the same God that has done all He’s done. God is the same God that is doing all He is doing. God is the same God that will do all He’s going to do. His hands are capable. I trust His hands. No matter what, He knows me better than I know myself and His bountiful love will always fill my life full and over flowing into my future too. He loves us and holds no good thing from His children.

That my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever (Psalm 30:12)

Forever

God + Nothing = Everything

Posted by Christy

I love the feeling I get when I see a box of things from our past. I smile just walking in the direction of the box. Opening them and talking about what each thing represents. The laughter, and love that flow as we remember. Things my kids made, holiday decorations, funny and sweet notes my children wrote, things sweet friends gave me, mementos of my Dad and other loved ones no longer with us. We’re all transported back. It’s cozy there in the kisses from our Heavenly Father.

What a blessing it is to cuddle with each kiss! It’s like getting blessed all over again. Passing to the next generation the moments of joy we have in raising our children, growing and loving in marriage, the awe, fear, wonder, and victories in God. I was talking with a friend the other day who said we don’t remember days, we remember moments. I agree.

I give thanks for remembering. For the remembering brings joy. Joy in giving God the glory and thanks in a life lived well. I add quickly not a life lived perfectly, but with honest passion, desire, love and compassion authored by God Himself. A passionate desire to follow, glorify and honor God. This story of love is authored by Him. A life together made on our own would not have been so great. In our own weak attempts we fail. For we are nothing and have nothing without Him

For you see, God + nothing = everything

I Can’t Handle God

Posted by Christy

Ever have that time with the Lord? You know, that time. When His presence is so thick and He is absolutely skin to skin? Beautiful. Breathtaking. Wonderful. Speechless. Grateful. Wow.

I crave that. I love it with all of my being. Nothing I like more. No thing.

I love it so much and I want to walk in it constantly. I can’t stand it when it fades. I say, “No! Stay a while longer!”

I began asking the Lord why we couldn’t stay like that

“Why do You come so close, and then fade?

Why can’t I stay cheek to cheek with You?”

I asked Him this everyday for a few days every time it happened. I am SUCH a Daddy’s girl (Daddy in the sense of my heavenly Daddy. My favorite name for Him). I love crawling into His lap and cuddling. I love watching Him work in His dynamite power. I love everything about Him. Every part. I am sold-out-head-over-heels for Him

One morning, not long after, I was in the shower and I was singing and worshipping my heart out when He came so close that my Spirit was so full and was crying sweet tears. Know what I mean? When your spirit is so close to the Lord and you weep without crying? I LOVE IT EVERY TIME!! I wasn’t even taking a shower anymore as I stopped and just wailed and worshipped the King of Kings and my Daddy. Sweet. Powerful. Lovely. Breathtaking. Nothing like it.

Then God said….see, daughter, this is why you can’t stay this close to me….you are a hot mess! Can you imagine how you could be useful in this world like this? You wouldn’t get a thing done and would be on your face all the time! You can’t handle it.

God says, I can’t handle Him…..
that close….
all the time….

I just lay everything down. Stop what I’m doing. My spirit can’t be that close to my maker without stopping and reveling in it….rolling around in it….bathing in it. Just can’t. He has to move just far enough away, and cover me with His hand because I just can’t stand it.

When I’m that near, I’m consumed and on my face.

Couldn’t you just picture seeing me at a restaurant? You walk by and see that poor waitress trying to understand me as I sit with my face down on the table, crying, and saying, “I’ll haaaaave an i i ice waaaterrrrr with leeemoooonnnnn.” Wouldn’t I look hilarious scooting around with my face on the ground?

However, He’s always close…..He never leaves me. I’m always in His presence. There is no escape from God’s presence. Isn’t that WONDERFUL?! That just sends me flying!

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 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. Psalm 139:7-10

Ahhh, David sure knew how to adore God didn’t he? He’s a master Jesus-jigging dude! When we see in 2 Samuel how he danced and whirled with all his might before the Lord we can take note that he was indeed a Jesus jigging master and said he would “become even more undignified than this and lose all dignity even to the point of embarrassing himself for his Lord”!

I would not be embarrassed and would gladly become undignified for my Lord. He is right that I can’t handle being that close all the time. I would explode! But, thank God He never leaves me, and He forever speaks. He’ll always be enough–always blow my mind and flip me out–always bamboozle me and I LOVE IT!