Reflections of Christmas 2008

A belated Merry Christmas to all! I pray you and yours had a Christ-filled Christmas and now eagerly look forward to the New Year and all the Lord has in store for us!

Our Christmas was wonderful...even after a "scrooge" start to the month...let me explain...

Shortly after teaching on Ruth and Boaz...(thank you for your prayers..the Lord was good!), I crashed...spiritually, emotionally, and physically...I was soooo tired, everything was a struggle and the whole time...I'm feeling like..."I know this is an attack", but I did nothing... just continued to struggle...the computer crashed, I was grumpy, I forgot important stuff and I was NOT walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit by a long shot. Finally, I had enough and in the quietness of my room I sought Him...you know Him...the One whose birth I was supposed to be celebrating....and I am still overwhelmed that no matter how hard we tumble..when we earnestly seek Him...He comes...always...

And that is what we just celebrated..His coming... His coming to earth..AND His going...His going
to the cross... For some reason this year, every time I pictured in my mind the babe of Christ in the manger, I saw the shadow of the cross....for that is why He came...to go - to the cross. And I found comfort in that, comfort in the fact that the enemy is defeated and I may walk in victory.
So, a season that started out as an attempted hijack by the enemy turned into a season of victory! Praise Him!

Father! I praise You ...for Your plans always prosper. Forgive my shortsightedness, my inability to look past the present and trust Your plan. I pray that I may listen more closely to Your voice, and heed it. Thank You for coming when I call...You are Holy, righteous and loving!
in Jesus name, Amen!

Some sweet highlights:

*Finally finding THAT special gift!

*Our 11th annual cookie party...25 girls, many moms and countless sprinkles!!

*Peeking in the first-grader's room Christmas eve and seeing him and his boy cousins (ages 26, 23 &19) all laid out on the floor with the most amazing farm set up you have ever seen playing tractors!

*Not having to travel anywhere!...Having everyone here...19 in-laws Christmas eve...19 of my family Christmas day!

*Going to bed at 7:30 Christmas day night!!!

*Taking my freshman shopping the day after Christmas and having lunch with friends I have know for 35 years!

*Slipping way with sweet hubby for a night away!

Rejoicing in His victory!
Teresa

My Redeemer Lives!

I have been knee-deep in the book of Ruth preparing a teaching for this Thursday. And as the old saying goes....I am on fire! I have always loved the story of Ruth. It is such a complete love story. And I'm a hopeless romantic that dearly loves a happy ending. But having soaked in this precious Word for a couple of days, I am acutely aware that this is OUR love story...we are living this story...If you have approached the threshing floor of our Lord and accepted His offering of covering as our kinsman-redeemer, then you are His bride! You have been spoken for, bought back, redeemed from this pitiful world.

AND it is time that we (the bride of Christ) arise, stand tall, shoulders back, head held high and with one eye to the east...live out radiant lives as the precious bride that we are! Will you do that today? Will you do that for your King? And bring a blessing to the very heart of God!

Please join me in shouting with Job...
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet my flesh I will see Him with my own eyes - I and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27

Oh heavenly Redeemer!
You alone are worthy! I don't think there are words to express what my heart feels...while I was a sinner..(a foreigner, like Ruth) You planned to be my redeemer. Father forgive me for flirting with the world, for looking too much like the world and not like Your bride. I pray for the Holy Spirit to seek out those places in my life that need to change so that I can live out a radiant life in You before others!
in Jesus Holy Name,
Amen

Praying you have a productive, radiant Monday!
Shouting and yearning!
Teresa