Peace Out

Dear Friend:

In the last few days I have enjoyed family, shopping and laughing a lot. The joy has come from a little assignment the Lord laid on my heart this past week. I picked up my bible and felt stirred to read the book of Hebrews. As the words lay before me and I read the continuous plan God had for all mankind. The writer, explained over and over the love message of God and the identity of Jesus.

I can’t explain fully the strength and peace that I got from the words. God’s word! My message comes with joy and energy to encourage you to read for yourself the word. It does not always work to just imagine from memory the story of Jesus. It is powerful to just read it! Even if you think you know what it says, something about reading it again! Ugh! I wish I could explain it! But just know that it renewed my strength and has given me joy and hope. It is the hope of today! Jesus came! But for us, He is coming back! It is our hope in the midst of these days. It is a bigger thing to come and bigger than our circumstances and bigger than our lives. The Israelites had the hope and it was fulfilled. Some got it and some did not. We have been able to hear the story and know it was true and now wait, wait in anticipation for His coming again.

I leave you with what struck me as I read this morning these actions of Moses. He left His life of luxury with Pharaoh the king. He looked up to the bigger things of life and chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. Hebrews 11:25 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Hebrews 11:26
What courage!
Let’s pray: Lord give me the courage, boldness, strength to look at your son Jesus as a greater value than things of life and fulfill what you have for me in the New Year. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

So as 2009 is behind us let approach 2010 with a NEW ATTITUDE!

Peace out,
Elaine

Slip Through Your Fingers

Hebrews 4:16 Now that we know what we have-Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God-let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all-all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. TAKE THE MERCY, ACCEPT THE HELP!

Dear Friend:
Our reality is that life can be hard and there is so much hurting, pain, not enough time and disease. Reality of what’s going on can throw you into asking “what is going on here?” The next step to that is usually panic and from panic we tend to run and ask “what can we do to make a solution to the circumstances?” Then we run for a solution. It is what the prodigal son did. His idea was to get his inheritance and then he could eat, sleep and be merry. But his idea failed. I can only repeat over and over what the word of God says “go to the throne before the phone.” Before you make a decision, pray, pray again and then pray again. Ask God to cover you daily with his thoughts and ways. He can examine your heart. Letting others examine your way could lead to pain and hurt. We must have the Spirit of God helping us with our daily “stuff.”

In this Christmas season we must be reminded of the great Immanuel who came to save us from separation from God. When we understand that Jesus is the only way to getting to God we enter into what the writer in Hebrews says is “REST.” (Hebrews 4:3) I pray that you when you read what Jesus did on the cross, that’s what will take you out of panic and back to reality. Reality is, God is in control and no matter what we go through, he will be with you, he will walk you through.

Bottom line message I think God is saying to you today:
I AM NOT OUT OF TOUCH WITH YOUR REALITY. YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ME-DON’T LET IT SLIP THROUGH YOUR FINGERS.
-GOD-
Let’s pray: Lord I take your mercy and accept your help. Thank you for the reminder of who Jesus is and why he came. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Resting,
Elaine

Slingin' Snot

Luke 2:13-18 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

Dear Friend:

I am sure curiosity struck you when looked at the title of this Heart 2 Heart and maybe you even exclaimed “gross!” The title came straight out a Pastor’s mouth this past Sunday as he described his story when he reacted to a coat drive that our church is doing. He walked the lobby and saw hundreds of coats hanging everywhere and being a very emotional person he confessed he was “slingin’ snot” or as another would say “crying.” LOL! I never heard that saying so I thought I would pass it along.

In the scripture above it says “seeing was believing.” The shepherds heard but were probably moved emotionally when they saw the Messiah. We don’t always get moved by something significant until we see it with our own eyes. The Pastor was moved by seeing the huge amount of coats in the lobby of the church.

How are you moved by the significance of Christmas? I am always moved to tears when I listen and even look at the words to traditional hymn Christmas songs or rereading the Christmas story. I agree with the angels who in the above verse proclaimed “Glory to God in the Highest and peace to men on earth who please God.” If we want to see God and understand who He is, we must believe. What will you do till December 25, to experience the true meaning of Christmas? I bet you can see God working this Christmas Season if you look like the Pastor did at the church coat drive. God is working through His people all around us, that is the miracle of Christmas.

Let’s pray: Father in Heaven thank you for this time of the year when I remember the birth of the Messiah. Help me to see and believe as the shepherds did. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Should I say I am slingin’ snot or teary eyed over “Christ”mas?
Elaine

Ton of Headaches

16 A simple life in the Fear-of-GOD
is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches. PROVERBS 15:16

Dear Friend:

Got headaches? Try this medicine: a simple life in FEAR-OF-GOD.

Here’s an example:
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Noah’s holy fear helped him to see the warning signs regarding the great flood. Noah had no crowd to follow. His family was the only family that listened, stepped out in faith and by building an Ark. Noah had great courage to follow God’s leading, but it paid off because it says “he became the heir of the righteousness.”

Grab hold of the simple life!

Let’s pray: I ask today God that you can show me and grow me so I can trust you more. Let me see things in this Christmas season the way you do. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Taking my daily dose,
Elaine

Give This Christmas Away

http://matthewwest.com/
"And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
—Acts 20:35

Dear Friend:

Have you started your Christmas shopping? I heard a Christian singer and songwriter, Matthew West, on the radio and his Christmas message is called “give this Christmas away.” You can find information about it on the above website. He wrote a Christmas song and book encouraging us all to make a list of what we want to give away for Christmas. The verse above is a reminder from Jesus “it is more blessed to give than receive.” It is the beginning of the month and we have 25 days to give.

So here is the message:
Enjoy giving! -GOD-

Let’s pray: Father in Heaven thank you for reminding me today of the great gift you gave me. You gave of yourself for my eternal security. I am so blessed. Help me to make a list and give as you gave. In Jesus name I pray Amen.

Loving God,
Elaine

Matthew West will be in Oakbrook on Dec. 6.

Remain True

Acts 11:23 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace (favor) of God; he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
Dear Friend:
Remaining true to yourself and God takes time. Time is something we seem to never have enough of these days. In the book of Acts it explains the period right after Jesus went to heaven. The news of Jesus Christ was spreading and at first the Apostles thought this good news was only for the Jews. In Acts 11, it became evident that there were gentiles who received the grace of God. The Apostles were filled with joy upon hearing and seeing that many were coming to the saving grace of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was giving ALL the power to “Remain True” to the Lord with all their hearts. With resolute and steadiness we must REMAIN TRUE to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
That is the message for today.
Do not compromise. Remain True. –God-
Let’s pray: Your evidence of grace is all around me and I am filled with joy. Help me to remain true to you with all my heart. When I don’t see the grace (favor) help me to see it. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
God is your biggest fan and He loves you!
Love from Above,
Elaine

Fear Not

Ps 34: 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Ps 34:7 the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
God is saying “you have sought me and I am answering, I will deliver you from all your fears. I have angels of mine encamping around you who fear me, and I deliver you!
-JESUS-

Let’s pray: Lord thank you for this kind and gentle word. It fills me up today. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Fear free,
Elaine

Guardian Angel

Matthew 18:10 See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Acts 12:15 you’re out of your mind, they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “it must be his angel.”

Dear Friend:
I was perusing through the Bible recently and I came across the verse above in Matthew. Jesus spoke to his disciples about His children and right in the verse it gives evidence of a guardian angel. Isn’t it always reassuring to know that we are being looked out for? I know we have God and we are not to worship angels, but they are God’s helpers. The disciple Peter was getting out of prison and he goes to the house of Mary, mother of John, and a servant girl Rhoda answers the door. She runs to tell the others “he as at the door.” They respond “it must be his angel.” We are never alone, if we can just grasp the magnitude of that!

I think God is giving us a message for today!
I will command angels, concerning you to guard you in all your ways! -God-
(Psalm 91:11)

Will you pray with me: Father in heaven thank you for commanding the angels concerning me to guard me in all my ways. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Never alone,
Elaine

Exuberant Life

Galatians 5:22-23 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Dear Friend:
I don’t know about you but being exuberant for life sounds pretty good to me!
I want to give you a gift- affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity, willingness to stick with things, and a sense of compassion in the heart. You will find yourself in loyal commitments, no need to force your way in life, and be able to direct your energy wisely.
-GOD-

My response:
God I want to live your way. I want these gifts so I can live a more exuberant life for you! Lead me.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

I like saying “exuberant!”

Elaine