Friday, December 29, 2006

Dance

Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:13

posted by Tamara @ 5:58 PM 0 comments

Thursday, December 28, 2006

He

And he will be their peace.
Micah 5:5
Simply Profound! Strictly direct. I love it
Please read the previous and following verses in your bible. The previous verses can also be found in Dec 24th's post. I pray you find Peace in Jesus this Holiday season and continue in it throughout eternity.

posted by Tamara @ 6:26 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Grace conquers regret

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Regrets are part of life, nothing anyone should feel shamed for having...it's life; hard and imperfect.

Yes, I have regrets and yes, they have formed part of who I am today...just wish I didn't learn the hard way.

To me as a Christian, Grace is what conquers the strongholds that regret can have on our lives.

posted by Tamara @ 7:28 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

VOD: verse of the day

VOD: verse of the day
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. -Psalm 37:4

This is a verse I have memorized and have so for as long as I can remember. But I never really thought about it in the proper context. I read this verse, and thought "ok God, I trust you, and now I trust you to give me the desires of my heart". I trust you to give me this relationship or to just make that one thing happen because it is what I desire. I know some of those desires are to be in a solid, God honoring relationship (even think I had the right person) and to get married. But, ya know...God is a God who answers prayers but in His time. Maybe all those will happen and maybe not, but one thing is certain...my trust in God will never fade. The definition of delight is to give great pleasure or satisfaction; to please highly. With my mind focused on certain tangible things, how can I delight myself in the Lord. I think that is where discipline comes in. To transform your mind, and renew your thinking.

posted by Anonymous @ 6:48 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 25, 2006

VOD: verse of the day

VOD: verse of the day
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

posted by Anonymous @ 12:45 PM 0 comments

Merry CHRISTmas

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

posted by Tamara @ 6:18 AM 0 comments

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Bethlehem's Promise

2"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.

4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
Micah 5:2-4
I don't think I'll ever fully grasp the magnitued of how Christs' birth changed the WORLD...I'm in awe and thinking a mile a minute...yet nothing seems to type out...wow...just WOW!

posted by Tamara @ 6:31 AM 0 comments

Friday, December 22, 2006

VOD: verse of the day

VOD: verse of the day
“[The Shepherds and the Angels] And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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 2:8-11

As you hear this verse doesn't your mind immediately picture that scene from Charlie Brown's Christmas special. Linus standing in the middle of the stage with his blankie and reciting this story so eloquently. It makes me smile inside and out because I know it is more than a story. Christ's birth is not just a once a year thing. It is not about Santa Claus or decorations or carolers, but about a promise fulfilled. A father's great love for his people that reached down from the heavens. As it says in a song, ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no river wide enough, to keep me from getting to you. There was nothing that could stop Christ from coming. God promised a Savior, the Messiah, and he delivered. Everyday we can know of Christ's birth. Everyday we can be filled with the joy and grace He bestows. Every single day not just on Christmas day. There is lies the true meaning of Christmas, and really, the meaning of life. Christ is the eerlasting Lord. O praise him!

posted by Anonymous @ 9:20 AM 0 comments

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Heritage

And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.
-Matthew 2:6 NLT

posted by Tamara @ 11:48 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

VOD: verse of the day

VOD: verse of the day
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

posted by Anonymous @ 8:33 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Faith changing views

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
~Hebrews 11:1

I am learning so much about faith right now, and it's scary! But at the same time,
exciting because I'm getting to see how God indeed provides in all levels/parts of life. How He is our future and our hope, when it gets down to the nitty gritty, that's all that matters. It's strange how already my view of material possessions has changed, so many things I'd like, but do I really need? In six months I'll be getting rid of them, can't take it, it'll cost to try and keep it, so why get it? What would it look like if we as Christians took this approach to life on earth in view of eternal life in heaven? In saying this I mean do we question what is really worth our investments in time and money? Do we feel the sense of urgency? or allow ourselves to become caught up in the world?

posted by Tamara @ 1:26 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 18, 2006

Verse for the Day

Verse for the Day
18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;
Isaiah 1:18-19

Red is the universal color of love. White is the universal color of purity. The love of Christ flowed down from his blood soaked hands to wash away the drug of our sin, to make us white. It is only by his blood that we are washed clean. There was no other way for us to be united with God and give him the glory he deserves. So Christ came, with all the white angels and white glory resounding around him, He came and He conquered. It is only by His blood. What a reason to celebrate this season! I also think of white in relation to peace and hope, like a dove. Through his Spirit we have peace in our soul. All I can say is thank you.

posted by Anonymous @ 1:09 PM 0 comments

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Birth foretold

13 Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 15 He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. 16 But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah‚ he will bring the king of Assyria."
Isaiah 13-17

Isaiah has foretold how Jesus was to arrive and prophesied to the Jews what to look for during the time of the coming of the Messiah...I wonder, hope, and pray that we as Christians are keen to what has been said to happen during the time of the coming of the High Priest. (Jesus’ 2nd coming) As we reflect and celebrate the His first coming, let us not forget the hope we have in His return!

posted by Tamara @ 6:05 AM 0 comments

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Qualified

10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:10-12 (NIV) emphasis mine

posted by Tamara @ 5:54 AM 0 comments

Friday, December 15, 2006

Verse for the Day

Verse for the Day
“But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”- Luke 1:30-33

I love the Christmas story, and always have since I was young. I am amazed by the fact that everytime I read the story, the words are the same, but I come away learning something new. In this passage, and in ones after, the gospels say how Mary and Joseph found favor with God. They obeyed and God smiled on their obedience. He trusted them with the grand task of bringing the Savior into the world. The same child they will care for, will save them from darkness. Jesus truly is a miracle baby. The thing I take away from this is obedience. God finds favor with those who obey. The more I prove I can be obedient, then the more He trusts me to do. We get more responsibility as we mature, but that is the beauty of grace. That we can keep growing closer to God because of Christ, in essence, because of Mary and Joseph's obedience.

posted by Anonymous @ 8:34 AM 0 comments

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-17
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We must remember that as followers in Christ we are in a battle against the enemy. We know that ultimately our Lord will prevail, however, he has chosen us to help fight his battles. Like any good leader, He has provided us with all the necessary tools to be successful. The Armor of God is key, I encourage you and myself to incorporate these verses into our morning routine. Daily putting on our Armor for each day we are in battle.

posted by Tamara @ 9:50 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Imitating Christ's Humility and being unified

Verse for the Day
4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. Shining as Stars - Philippians 2:4-11

5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus. -Romans15:

posted by Anonymous @ 11:49 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Believe

Luke 1:45
"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

After watching the movie "The Nativity Story", I am in awe of the sacrifice and ridicule Mary endured in knowing that she was pregnant with a child not of Joseph and before their marriage. I guess growing up it seemed all hunky dory, but it wasn't. She was so humble and faithful about it...see how she believed?! This movie is amazing and will become a Christmas tradition in my life. I also fell in love with Joseph, what a man of compassion, commitment, sacrifice, faith, and integrity!

posted by Tamara @ 6:24 AM 0 comments

Monday, December 11, 2006

Love

Verse for the Day
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John 3:16

Red is the universal color for love. Red is the blood that flowed from the hands and feet of our Savior. He humbled himself to become an infant and walk among us-our Immanuel-then gave his life for us. Now when I see the red all among me, I am reminded of love. The love of my Father and my Creator. That love will never end and it is more than enough. I am so grateful for that love because it means that I am forgiven. I am cleansed and made new. Talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

posted by Anonymous @ 12:39 PM 0 comments

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Success

"Commit to the Lord all you do and your plans will succeed"
-Proverbs 16:3

When God's plans are the foundation and essence of our plans, I can't imagine why we sometimes doubt how successful they will be.

posted by Tamara @ 9:19 AM 0 comments

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Anger

Ephesians 4:26

"In your anger do not sin"...

Psalm 4:4

Last night my Bible fell open to Ephesians, no big surprise since there was a piece of paper left there from a while ago. Anyway, I decided to glance at the pages before I started my intended reading and this verse caught my eye. I thought about it briefly, finding it interesting that the human emotion of anger is not a characteristic of sin...it's ok for us to feel angry. It's how you react in anger that may be sinful. Anyway, I made my way to Psalms as I've begun to read a chapter a day....and this is the chapter I read, this is the verse I read. I laugh a little, because I had no clue that this was repeated in the Bible...but then in the footnotes I see Ephesians 4:26 noted. I'm a firm believer that acoincidence like this is one way of God getting our attention and communicating with us. This particular one has taken me off guard, I don't feel overly angry about anything right now...a few slight disappointments...hmm...maybe it's for the future or not me but someone reading this.

I don't know what I'm to learn/share, maybe the simple message of it's ok to be angry...be more conscience of what you are doing when angry...or...when angry stop and pray about what is making you angry and then move on...hopefully any sinful desires have subdued by that time.

posted by Tamara @ 9:43 AM 0 comments

Friday, December 08, 2006

Verse for the Day

18 "Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19

I think one of my New Years resolutions needs to be to stop worrying about things of the past. To stop wishing for things I don't have when God clearly has something better in store. It is almost a New Year, which normally marks a new beginning. But why wait. God is going a new thing now. He is making a way through the dryness and into the land of milk and honey. He is leading us to the promised lans, and we have to be alert and ready. Ready to take in whatever comes our way. To be honest this verse kind of sums up 2006 for me.

posted by Anonymous @ 10:47 AM 0 comments

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Womb Babies

Luke 1:41
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Two amazingly faithful women, two world changing babies, and two miraculous stories. Elizabeth's baby is to be John the Baptist, who lights the way of the coming Messiah Jesus (Mary's baby). This verse is one of my favorite of the Christmas Story, how confirming to Mary that she was going to birth our Saviour. Only at her voice, not sight, not touch, just her voice and the child in Elizabeth leapt. I imagine he was leaping for joy! I also love how this is written not as a mere coincidence, but as a fact no questions asked. I think often our human minds want to rationalize and thence minimalizing some great works done through the Holy Spirit.

Those who know me won't be surprised, but I have a camp song that is about John's birth and role in life...if you remember to ask I'll sing it for you.

posted by Tamara @ 6:25 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Verse for the Day

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

I want to overflow with the Spirit of God. Not half-full or half-empty but spilling over and making a big scene. The hope God gives is sufficient to do that. I mean he is the creator of the universe. When we do trust in him, the result is peace and joy. We are promised that, and he tells us over and over.

posted by Anonymous @ 1:14 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Obedience

Verse for the Day
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:38

About this time of the year we start talking about the birth of Jesus, and I am always amazed by Mary. At her obedience and her complete surrender to the Lord's will. Then I ask myself, what would I do? I would like to think that I would but ya know I'm not sure. Mary did and how grateful am I that she said yes.

posted by Anonymous @ 8:08 AM 0 comments

Monday, December 04, 2006

A New Thing!

Isaiah 43:18,19
"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

posted by Tamara @ 8:07 AM 0 comments

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Listening, more than hearing

Matt 17:5
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Talk about being blown away, can you imagine how awestruck you'd be if you were there when this happened? Here's a number one command from Heaven "Listen to Him!"
How well do we really listen to him? Remember, listening is an active form of communication...it's not just hearing. We can hear God, but what we do how we react and even interact with Him afterwards encompasses all that is listening. How good are your listening skills? I've been doing a lot of hearing lately, feel free to hold me accountable to active listening.

posted by Tamara @ 9:55 PM 0 comments

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Verse for the Day
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

posted by Anonymous @ 7:44 AM 0 comments

Friday, December 01, 2006

Prayer for Victorious Life

3 May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
Selah

4 May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.

Psalm 20

I feel that these verses are most encouraging and up lifting. It reminds me that sacrifices are not in vain, sufferings not overlooked. In all of this it is in his prayer that the desires of my heart are met...pray that it is through God that my plans are inspired and will be successful. These are hopes for the future that keep us striving to get closer.
When there, what glory to hear the joy of the community of believers in Christ, can you picture it? The joy of His work being completed through the vessel of you/me.

posted by Tamara @ 11:48 AM 0 comments