EMMANUEL

 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, 

and they shall call his name Emmanuel, 

which being interpreted is, God with us. 

Matthew 1:23

GOD WITH US

Such wonderful words!

And yet Jesus was born to a very young girl

who was not rich or well known.

His earthly father was just an ordinary laborer. 

He was born in a barn, of all places!

His first clothes were just some available material.

The first birth announcement was given to lowly shepherds.

But...His name is GOD WITH US!

He didn't come to the rich.

He wasn't born in the finest palace.

He wasn't wrapped in royal blankets.

He didn't have servants to wait on His every need.

A royal announcement did not go out to tell every one a king was born.

But...He was GOD WITH US  sent to be our Saviour.

How wonderful that He came for rich and poor alike.

God came and lived with us

so that we could go and live with Him forever.

This is what Christmas is all about.

  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord.

 Luke 2:11

"Unto you," yes, even you, O weary heart and worn,

"Unto you" whose feet are tired, whose trembling hands are torn:

"Unto you," this sacred morn, come tidings from above

Which whisper of a Saviour born, and speaks His tones of love.

"Unto you," yes, even you, is Jesus born today.

If you will meekly give Him room, and bid your sweet Guest stay;

Though all the world may have their share, yet He is all for you,

He'll rest His head within your heart, and shed His love so true.

He does not ask for palace rare, to make His royal home,

He does not seek for costly fare, but love's sweet bidding, "Come";

He seeks a subject fond and true to yield to His blest sway,

To let the brightness of His smile light up your weary way.

"Unto you," though least of all His little ones today,

The star of Bethlehem doth shine, with gladness in its ray;

"Unto you," though small your strength, and weak the praise you bring,

"Unto you," dear trembling one, He comes you Lord and King.

"Unto you," this Christmas-tide; with your longing heart

The angels sing their song again, with all their heavenly art,

Nay, sweeter far than their sweet song, the Spirit from above

Shall bring the tidings of your King, and whisper of His love.

Carrie Judd Montgomery 

AMAZING 

I looked up the definition of the word amazing and

 here are a few of the descriptive terms associated with this word:

causing great surprise or wonder;

astonishing; startlingly impressive;

so remarkable as to elicit disbelief;

remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree;

astounding; fabulous; fantastic; incredible;

marvelous; miraculous; phenomenal;

 stupendous; wonderful; wondrous

So many meanings to this word and they all describe, in part, our God.

There are not enough words in the dictionaries, thesaurus, or all the

books in all the libraries in the world to truly describe our God.

When John Newton wrote “Amazing Grace” he described a

portion of God’s personality that He extends to us, His grace.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

This song written in 1772 is still probably the best loved of all hymns.

But there is a song that is sung by the Triumphant Quartet that too

expresses how “amazing” our God is and is a favorite of mine.

Amazing God

By The Triumphant Quartet

You want to hear the story of how I made it through,

When life was full of trouble, pain and fear

The answer may sound simple, though everything else crumbles

One thing has remained through all these years

Chorus

I still serve an amazing God,

He's been with me every mile, my weary feet have trod

He still cares, He still hears,

He's still mending broken hearts and drying tears

This old world is bound to change,

but I'm glad I know the One who always stays the same

And my song will ever be amazing God,

You're still amazing me.

The God who parted waters still makes a way today

He's always brought me through the troubled sea.

The One who fed the thousands, Whose word can calm the tempest

He's my Bread of Life and He's my peace.

I am so very glad that God never changes.  

He is ever waiting to hear our cry.

And He still amazes me!

I would like to share a few of the cards I have recently made:

  

Thanks to all of my friends who read 

and share my blog.

God bless you!

Please leave a comment if you enjoy this blog.  Thank you.

"God's Perspective" 


Have you ever wondered what God thinks when He looks upon this world He created?

What does He think about its inhabitants (all 6.45 billion of us)?

Consider...

We look at people passing on the street and see...people.

God looks at them and sees souls.

We look at a city and see the big buildings.

God looks at a city and sees souls.

We look at a packed baseball stadium and see a crowd in the stands.

God looks at that stadium and sees souls.

We look at the news on TV and see people with problems.

God looks at them and sees souls.

We look at a nation and think "population."

God looks at them and sees a nation of souls.

We look at photos of the earth taken from space and think, "what a sight!"

God looks at the world and sees souls.

We look at people at work and think, "colleagues."

God looks at them and thinks, "souls."

We look at people at church and think, "friends."

God looks at them and sees souls.

We look at people at concerts and think, "music lovers."

God looks at them and sees souls.

We look at people in a packed theater and think, "entertainment seekers."

God looks at them and sees souls.

We observe people filling the doctor's waiting room and think, "the sick."

God looks at them and sees souls.

We look at the happy crowds at the amusement park and think, "fun-seekers."

God looks at them and sees souls.

We see a school full of children and think, "students."

God looks at them and sees souls.

We look at the crowds in at the mall and think, "shoppers."

God looks at them and sees souls.

We look at the rich and famous on TV and think, "wow!"

God looks at them and sees souls.

We see people dressed up in their tuxes and evening gowns and are impressed.

God looks at them and sees souls. (See James 2:2-5.)

We see ragged, unkempt men sleeping under bridges and we keep our distance.

God looks at them and sees souls.

We see a church full of people at a funeral and think, "mourners."

God looks at them and sees souls.

What does all this mean? 

As Christians we are to grow more and more like Christ. As we do so, we should see things more and more as He sees things — and less and less as the world sees things. 

God looks at people all over North America – and around the world – who are reading this newsletter right now. And He sees souls. Is He pleased when He sees yours? 

Paul Heil (The Gospel Greats) used with his permission

When I read this I knew I had to pass it on.

I think it says it all.

FAITH IN SPITE OF CIRCUMSTANCES

FAITH IN SPITE OF CIRCUMSTANCES

There are degrees to faith.

The first kind of faith believes 

when we have some feeling or sign that 

what we are believing for will happen .

The second believes even though there 

are no supportive feelings.

But, the third kind of faith 

believes God and His Word 

when circumstances, emotions, 

appearances, people and 

human reason all indicate to the contrary.

That is true faith.

Paul had this kind of faith:

And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, 

and no small tempest lay on us, 

all hope that we should be saved was then taken away...  

He said...

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, 

that it shall be even as it was told me. 

Acts 27:20 & 25

May we have the faith to fully trust God's Word 

even though everything else says the opposite.

When is the time to trust?

It is when all is calm,

When waves the victor's palm,

And life is one glad psalm

Of joy and praise?

Nay! but the time to trust

Is when storm clouds fill the sky,

And prayer is one long cry, 

O help and save!

When is the time to trust?

Is it when friends are true?

Is it when comforts woo, 

And in all we say and do

We meet but praise?

Nay! but the time to trust
Is when we stand alone,

And summer birds have flown,

And every prop is gone,

All else but God.

What is the time to trust?

Is it some future day,

When you have tried your way,

And learned to trust and pray

By bitter woe?

Nay! but the time to trust 

Is in this moment's need! 

Poor broken, bruised reed!

Poor, troubled soul, make speed 

To trust thy God.

What is the time to trust?

Is it when hopes beat high,

When sunshine gilds the sky,

And joy and ecstasy

Fill all the heart?

Nay! but the time to trust 

Is when our joy is fled, 

When sorrow bows the head,

And all is cold and dead,

All else but God.

We can trust our loving Lord to keep His word..

Thanks for visiting. 

 I am praying that this will encourage you in your spiritual walk with the Lord.

SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS

SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS

I wanted to share the words to this

song with you to bless you.

They have been going through my mind so often recently.

Such beautiful words and the thought of sitting at Jesus' feet  

and looking on His face is so precious.

 Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

Oh, what words I hear Him say!

Happy place! so near, so precious!

May it find me there each day;

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

I would look upon the past;

For His love has been so gracious,

It has won my heart at last. 

 Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

Where can mortal be more blest?

There I lay my sins and sorrows,

And, when weary, find sweet rest;

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

There I love to weep and pray;

While I from His fullness gather

Grace and comfort every day. 

 Bless me, O my Savior, bless me,

As I sit low at Thy feet; 

Oh, look down in love upon me,

Let me see Thy face so sweet;

Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus,

Keep me holy as He is;

May I prove I’ve been with Jesus,

Who is all my righteousness.

J. Lincoln Hall

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus,

and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed,

sitting at the feet of Jesus,  clothed, and in his right mind.

Luke  8:35  

The man who had been delivered from Satan's power

immediately wanted to sit at Jesus' feet. 

How blessed we are to have this privilege to come 

to Him and bring our burdens and cares

and know He cares and will give us the grace

we need to meet the needs of every day.

I hope that the words of this song will be an 

encouragement to you every day.

Thank you Lord for blessing our nation!

243 years old!

Proud to be an American!

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

Psalm 33:12 

HOPE

HOPE

Hope sings to me a cheerful song –

The way may seem both dark and long,

But days are passing one by one,

And all is glory farther on.

And HOPE has wings as well as song,

And when she spreads her pinions strong,

My thoughts soar up and swell upon

The heavenly glory farther on.

And HOPE has eyes that pierce the gloom;

She looks beyond death and the tomb,

And thrills as though already shone

The deathless glory farther on.

Hope, blessed hope, abide with me,

Still sing thy cheerful melody,

Till, clouds and tears for ever gone,

I reach the glory farther on.

J. T. Mawson

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?

and why art thou disquieted in me?

hope thou in God:

for I shall yet praise him

for the help of his countenance.

Psalm 42:5

I have been busy making cards.  Here are a few samples:

Have a great day in the Lord!

FATHER'S DAY