Need the Father?

My quiet time this morning took me to Matthew 9:20-22

“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.  For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”  But Jesus turned around and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has made you well.”And the woman was made well from that hour.”

This lady had been bleeding for TWELVE years!  Can you imagine?  In that day and time, women were deemed unclean during their monthly cycle.  They weren’t to even be among others must less touch the hem of JESUS’ garment!  However, she knew that Jesus was the only one who could heal her.    Seeing her deep faith, Jesus called her DAUGHTER and healed her!

Have you ever longed to touch the hem of His garment?  Well, my friend, I have good news!  You can!  You can touch the hem of His garment through prayer.  When Jesus left the earth, He left us (Christians) with the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is our gift from God which is equal to Himself!

Whatever your need is today, whether health, finances, or relationships…reach out and touch the Father through prayer!  He is waiting to meet your need!

Celebrating the Birth of Christ

As Christmas quickly approaches, how do you plan on celebrating?   

I’d like to be sure that my children know the real reason we celebrate this holiday, the birth of Christ.  Here are a few things we will do as a family:

·        Bake treats for friends, family, neighbors, etc.  We bag these up and stick a label on them with scripture that represents Christ’ birth.    Then I drive my children around letting them get out to deliver the goodies and wish people a Merry Christmas.

·        Take your children shopping for a toy to donate to a needy family.

·  Perform a random act of kindness.  For example, while paying for your food in the drive-thru, pay for the person’s food behind you.  Tell the lady at the window to wish them a Merry Christmas for you.  (I pray before going to the drive thru, that God will place a person behind me that needs a little Christmas Spirit.)

·    Have a birthday party for Baby Jesus!  On Christmas Eve morning, my children and I will decorate a cake.  After our Christmas meal, we will sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles!  (This is the first year we will do this and the children are really excited about it!)

·        Read the Christmas story from the Bible.  Every year on Christmas morning, when the children awake, they crawl in the bed with us and we will read Luke 2.  (Tad usually wants to read it for us.)  Then we run to the living room to open presents!

·        Christmas is on a Sunday this year.  We will definitely go to our Christmas church service.  What better way to celebrate the birth of Jesus than to go to church?  If you don’t have a home church, please join us at Greensboro Baptist Church Sunday morning at 10am.

Feel free to comment and leave more ideas for us!

Need Refreshing???

“Water, please!”  My boys LOVE to play outside with their daddy!  Football is usually their first choice.  When they get started, they don’t stop…until, of course, they are panting for water.

Ice cold water on a hot summer day – isn’t that refreshing?

As Tad gulped his water and ended with an ahhhh sound, I began to think about the Word of God.  The way Tad felt after that big glass of ice water is exactly the way I feel after I spend time with my Savior…ahhhhh.   Isn’t that precious time refreshing?

How about you? In these days of busy, fast paced lifestyles, refreshing may be just what you need.  I know, I know, some days it is difficult to find time.  And when you do try to find time, the phone rings or the children awake.  Have you ever gotten up and thought, “Oh well, I tried.”  Have you ever gone to bed and promised the Lord tomorrow would be different?

You know, Tad isn’t thinking of that water as a choice.  He needed refreshing, so it was a priority to stop playing long enough to get refreshed.  We should make our time with God even more of a priority.  It isn’t something else on our to-do list; it is necessary for our relationship with Christ.

I read once that we should stop trying to fit God into our plans and start letting yourself fit into God’s plans.

Acts 3:19 says that times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord.  Is your soul thirsty? Give it a drink of Jesus!  The Bible says you will never thirst again!  (John 6:35)