ANOTHER LOOK IN THE MANAGER

The greatest gift we will ever receive is laying in the manager.  Many will stop, take a look, but many will walk right by. I did for years. Until I stopped and thought, "That baby is God".

Let me share from the beginning how this all started by unwrapping this gift.  I had no idea that I was sinner. I wasn't a bad person.  Compared to others around me I felt pretty good. I went to church most of the time, said a few prayers, read my bible, and tried to be a nice person. I wasn't prefect.  Who was? You might say I was a good sinner compared to a bad sinner. 

I felt pretty good about myself until one day someone said to me, " Dottie, you know,  you are trying to mix oil and vinegar and you can't". I thought, "What on earth is she talking about?' 

Now, I get it.   God is Holy and man is unholy.   You don't mix Holy with unholy. That word was the beginning of my search to know the baby in the manager 50 years ago.

Today, I know why I was created   He wanted my fellowship and worship, Colossians 1:16.  I willfully choose to worship myself and went my own way.  I was separated from my creator and didn't even know it, until I found out that God had a secret.

Before the foundation of the earth, a blood covenant had been made between the Father and the Son. It would be kept in heaven until an appointed time on earth. Revelations 13:8. Galatians 4:4.

Roughly 2000 years ago, a child was born and placed in a manager.   He grew into manhood only to die as a sinner, who knew no sin,   
2 Corinthians 5:21  Why? He was God.  Perfect man.  It didn't make sense until I realized that I was the sinner and needed a savior to save me from the judgement of a Holy God. 

For years I knew the gospel, but I still felt something was missing.  I found it in Romans 6.  Jesus not only died FOR me, but,  I DIED WITH HIM, was buried with Him and was raised with Him into a newness of life.  It was true.  By faith, I had truly died and been born again. I was a new creation in Christ Jesus.  He is alive and His Spirit is in me Romans 8:9.  What a big difference it has made.  

I truly have entered into a new covenant with my Lord. It is like my  covenant with Roger when we were married.  We became one flesh. Now, with God (Father , Son and Holy Spirit)  I have became one Spirit with the Lord Jesus 1 Corinthians 6:17 . Nothing can separate me from His love. Romans 8:39.  We are in covenant. 

The greatest gift I have ever received I found lying in the manager, in Bethlehem, 2000 years ago, prepared as a sacrifice for my sin.

 I pray many will stop by the manager once again this year  to hear the baby say,  "I am God, clothed in your humanity to die for your sins.  Come...repent...turn back to me and I will receive you.  Your sins are forgiven, past, present and future.  I have so much to show you.  Keep unwrapping my gift to you."

SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS

THIS SONG CAME OUT 2015, BUT IT IS STILL A GOOD REMINDER.

Christmas is OUR holiday not the world's.  The world can have Santa, and he is fun, but he is NOT Christmas.  THE ONLY REASON FOR THIS SEASON ALL OVER THE WORLD, IS JESUS-- our Savior.  He came to lay down His life for us, the sinner, that we would be forgiven and raised to a newness of life.  Whosoever believes and receives Jesus as their Savior and Lord will receive the greatest gift ever given for man. Let us join together as believers and keep Christ in OUR Christmas.

LIGHT IS THE DARKNESS

Recently, I was in a conversation with a young mother, who has been dealing with many fears and anxieties. 

As we were talking, I felt the Lord gave me this encouraging word.  

"Josie, (the name is changed) I see that your heart is very heavy today."

"I am Dottie.  Motherhood is a little overwhelming some days and today is one of them." 

"How can I pray for you?" I asked 

" It's fear and anxiety again.  I don't think I am a very good mother.  I am afraid I will fail ."

"Oh Josie, there is plenty of that to go around. Motherhood, is full of it.  I remember when I was a young mom, an older woman said to me, "You may feel you are not a perfect mother, but you are the perfect mother for your daughter."  I held on to that for years.

I believe the Lord wants to encourage you today by reminding you that fear and anxiety are familiar feelings left over when you lived in the Kingdom of Darkness. They don't exist in the Kingdom of Light. It is so easy to forget who we belong to. It takes time.

 It is like when you first come into a dark room and turn on a light. At first, you can see only a little. But as you turn on more lights (revelations), you will begin to see more and more how beautiful the room has been arranged just for you. God loves you, Josie, and understands fear and anxiety all too well.  He nailed it to His cross. You don't have to live with it any more. The more you let Him embrace you with His love and believe you are totally forgiven for all your sins, Jesus will replace that fear and anxiety with more of Himself...Faith , Hope and Love.  "Perfect Love does cast out all fear." 1 John 4.

It's true, Josie.  He will continue to perfect us in His love and as He does, 'The things in this world will grow strangely dim."

 We hugged and were strengthen in our Lord for the day.

MOTHERS BEHIND THE MEN

There is a saying, " The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."  This is you MOM!

Many of our nation's presidents recognized the impact of godly mothers--as evidenced in these quotes. "All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my successes in life to the education I received from her, " George Washington.  "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me," Abraham Lincoln.  "From my mother I learned the value of prayer, how to have dreams and believe I could make them come true."  Ronald Reagan.  These leaders guided the country through difficult circumstances and attributed their success in part to their mother's teachings.

You may feel this culture has no place for you.  You bring a child into the world and it no longer belongs to you.  It may seem like the state wants to take over and tell you how to raise your child.  But that is not true.  If God has graced you with a child,  he/she is a gift from Him. You have the privilege to raise him/her in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  God has a special plan to bless that child with His glory.  He is with you and will show you the way.

Saint Paul  also recognizes the importance of godly mothers and grandmothers.  His letters to Timothy mention Lois and Eunice who taught Timothy scripture from childhood and modeled sincere faith despite a less than ideal environment (Timothy's father wasn't a Christian.).  Their influence led Timothy to become Paul's traveling companion in spreading the gospel and ultimately a leader in the early church. 2Timothy 1:5

Mom, don't lose heart.  God is on your side. You are raising the next generation of godly leaders.  It is time for the the righteous to rule and let the people rejoice.  Your sons and daughters will make an impact for good or for evil.  Remember who is  rocking the cradle!