Christmas Fluff

Posted on December 23, 2010 by WomanAlive

Thoughts on Christmas this morning…some people say it originated from pagan holidays, others say it started with Jesus Christ birth.  It seems everyone has their opinion, it’s almost like many onions with many layers.  Seems to me there’s an awful lot of fluff from both sides of the fence.
So let’s get to the heart of the matter, let’s move on past the glutinous commercial greed, negativity and petty arguing…let’s move our thoughts in a positive direction. Sometimes I think we get so caught up in being right that we neglect a wonderful opportunity to truly love one another unconditionally at this time of year.
Whether you believe in Christmas or not…the fact is it’s the end of the year as we know it in this current time period.  It’s a time of reflection and looking forward.
Let’s see now, you are here, I’m here,  let us right now in this moment of the time God has given us, show appreciation and love to our families, friends, loved ones, and yes … especially to those people we don’t know!
Let’s be kinder, nicer, gentler and consider how blessed we are to have them in our lives.
Every moment is precious.
Some of our family members are gone now and we miss them terribly, all the more reason to love the ones we have left to the fullest and set aside all pettiness.  Let your heart be full with knowing you aren’t alone in this world, you have family and friends and if you are a believer, you have Jesus who will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
And just for clarification Jesus said if we know him and see Him, then we know and see our Father creator.  In God’s word it says He is Love so if this season is about love then … ponder on that a while.
John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.”
John 14:7-10 [7] If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” [8] Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”   [9] Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father’?  [10] Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

Wisdom and Foolishness

Posted on December 21, 2010 by WomanAlive

From the Life Application Study Bible:

PROVERBS
Wisdom and Foolishness. The wise and the foolish are often contrasted in Proverbs.  The characteristics, reputation, and results of each are worth knowing if wisdom is our goal.
	The Wise	The Foolish
Characteristics	Give encouragement	Lack common sense	10:21
	Enjoy living wisely	Enjoy foolishness	10:23
	Consider their steps	Gullible	14:15
		Avoid the wise	15:12
	Hungry for knowledge	Feed on trash of foolishness	15:12
	Value wisdom above riches		16:16
	Respond to correction	Do not respond to punishment	17:10
	Pursue wisdom	Pursue illusive dreams	17:24
		Blame failure on God	19:3
	Profit from correction	An example to others	19:25
		Proud and arrogant	21:24
		Despise wise advice	23:9
		Make truth useless	26:7
		Repeat their folly	26:11
	Trust in wisdom	Trust in themselves	28:26
	Control their anger	Unleash their anger	29:11
Reputation	Crowned with knowledge	Clothed with foolishness	14:18
		Cause quarrels	22:10
		Receive no honor	26:1
	Calm anger	Stir up anger	29:8
Results	Stay on right paths	Enjoy the wrong paths	15:21
		Lash out when discovered in folly	17:12
		Endangered by their words	18:6,7
	Their wisdom conquers others’ strength		21:22
	Avoid wicked paths	Walk a treacherous road	22:5
	Grow stronger		24:5
		Will never be chosen as leaders	24:7
		Must be guided by hardship	26:3
		Persist in foolishness	27:22

Encouraging Others

Posted on December 18, 2010 by WomanAlive

Checklist for Encouraging:
The command to “encourage” others is found throughout the Bible.
In I Thessalonians 5:11-23 Paul gives many specific examples                                                  of how we can encourage others.

Reference –   I Thessalonians	Example	Suggested Application
5:11	Build each other up.	Point out to someone a quality you appreciate in him or her.
5:12	Honor leaders.	Look for ways to cooperate.
5:13	Show leaders great respect.	Hold back your next critical comments about those in positions of responsibility.  Say “thank you” to your leaders for their efforts.
5:13	Live in peace.	Search for ways to get along with others.
5:14	Warn the lazy.	Challenge someone to join you in a project.
5:14	Encourage the timid.	Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God’s promises.
5:14	Help the weak.	Support those who are weak by loving them and praying for them.
5:14	Be patient.	Think of a situation that tries your patience, and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.
5:15	Resist Revenge.	Instead of planning t o get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.
5:16	Be joyful.	Remember that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control
5:17	Pray continually	God is always with you – talk to him.
5:18	Give thanks.	Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.
5:19	Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.	Cooperate with Spirit the next time he prompts you to participate in a Christian meeting.
5:20	Do not scoff at prophecies.	Receive God’s word from those who speak for him.
5:22	Avoid every kind of evil.	Avoid situations where you will be drawn into temptation.
5:23	Count on God’s constant help.	Realize that the Christian life is to be lived not in our own strength but through God’s power.