Why we go on Mission to Kenya

We have returned yet again from another Mission trip to Kenya. You may have silently asked the question, "Why would they go around the world to another country?" Well I'm glad you asked!

We go first of all because the great commission is still in the Bible! We belong to Christ, and He is our Lord, and Master. So we do what He commands. The great commission is a command, not a suggestion!

Matthew 28: 19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Secondly, we go because Christ has appointed us as His ambassadors, so we have a job to do. We have been sent by Christ to represent Him and to give out His message.

II Corinthians 5:20 says, "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Thirdly, The love of Christ compels us to go. When you love who He loves, you want to go and tell it!

II Corinthians 5:14 "For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all..." So because Christ did so much for us, and died in our place, the least we can do is live for Him. We are to be obedient to Him and what He wants us to do.

Fourthly, I go because I love the Maasai people. They have gotten under my skin, and wormed their way into my heart. I have made friendship and relationships with these people, so I look forward to going back and seeing them every year.

I am already making plans to go back next February. I hope that more new people will go with us next time. If God tarries, and I am in good health, and it is still His will, I will continue to go while there is still breath in me and work to be done!

Tim Terrific!

I first heard about Tim Tebow in 2007. Steve and I and much of our church staff went to the Pastor's conference in Jacksonville, FL. While we were there we were introduced to a young man that played college football, named Tim Tebow. He spoke for a few minutes and I was so impressed with him.... I still am.

As far as I can tell, Tim Tebow is the same young man that shared his heart with us that day. As a member of First Baptist, Jacksonville, he grew up hearing great preaching from Jerry Vines. He was taught a solid Biblical foundation.

What is so impressive about Tim Tebow is that he gives God the honor and glory. When he scores a touch down, he bows his knee and thanks God. Back when he played college football he wore the black paint under his eyes with the Scripture verse, John 3: 16.

Once he started playing in the NFL, he was probably told that he couldn't wear that. But the Lord has a way of getting His message out anyway! Recently the big game that Tim played in, the numbers 316 kept turning up. In fact, they turned up at least three different times. The result of this was many people Googled "John 3:16". So many people found out the message that,

"God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." You see God was not sharing His glory with Tim Tebow. He will not share His glory with anyone! God loves people. He wants them to hear that message. The good news message of John 3:16.

When I think of Tim Tebow, I also think about the verse Proverbs 3:6, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

When Tim Tebow bows the knee during a football game, he is acknowledging God. He is acknowledging Him in everything he does. That is what is so great and inspiring to watch!

Tim Tebow has caused this woman to start watching football and the reason has nothing to do with football! I am just drawn to someone who acknowledges God in all of his ways!

Our young people need a good role model to look up to. Our society is lacking in this area.

I think they are safe to look up to a guy who bends that knee, and humbles himself to an Almighty God! I thank God for Tim Tebow. I will pray for him. We need more young men like him. Keep on Tebowing Tim! It's a good example for us all.

I need to get out of the Way

2012 is here, another year is gone. The natural ebb and flow of life. It is the time when we reflect on what transpired over the past year, and the what will be in the coming year.

I have but one New years resolution for 2012. It is based on the verse, John 3:30. "He must increase, I must decrease".

John the Baptist is the one who said this. He was a forerunner of Christ. A man who came before Christ to prepare the way for Him. When someone asked if he was the Messiah he said, "I am a voice crying in the wilderness". He looked at himself as being unimportant. He was just "a voice", a vessel. He could have become proud and haughty. He drew a large crowd everywhere he went. But he was a humble man who knew his purpose in life. It was just be a voice!

That's what I want to do. Be a tool, an instrument of the Lord. Be a voice. Be whatever God has placed me here on earth to be. So, with that I realize... I have to get out of the way!

I have to decrease... He (Jesus), must increase.

That's something to really think about...

By the end of this year, I hope you can barely see me at all.

By the end of this year when you look at me... I hope you just see Jesus.

Fullness of Time... Fullness of Grace

"But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Galatians 4:4-5(NASB)

We as humans are procrastinators by nature. We say things like,"It's not the right time yet." We hear things like, "It was the right time, and the right place."

Approximately 700 years passed from the time that Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be born to a virgin and Jesus was actually born. We might ask, "What was God waiting for?".

The fullness of time...

He was waiting for the perfect time, in fact He had the perfect plan that was set in motion from even the beginning of time.

This Scripture tells us "at the fullness of time". God sent forth His Son. Do you fully realize what all this entails?

When Jesus was born there was a star that appeared in the sky that was so distinct that the Wise Men knew to follow it. That means that when Jesus spoke the world and the universe into existence, He knew that at just the right time, when He Himself was born, this star would be apparent to these wise men.

I look at it like a cup that is so full, it is about to run over. An egg that has the baby chick is born "in the fullness of time". At just the right time, the egg cracks. When a human baby is born, we as it's Mother have no control of when he or she will be born. At the "fullness of time" it knows when to come.

So, in the "fullness of time, God sent forth"... and Mary "brought forth..."

God in His love and mercy, "sent forth His Son" to us! He emptied His heaven of His own Son, so that we could be His sons and daughters also! God wanted to be a Father to us.

Abba, Father... Daddy.

He knew that we could not keep the law, so He sent forth one who could. He would live a sinless, perfect life so that we could be free! We could be adopted by God into His family! We have the awesome privilege and honor of calling God Almighty Father, Abba, Daddy.

We are redeemed, purchased by Christ. He bought us back. He reconciled us to God. Just like the line in the carol, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing". ..."God and sinners reconciled", saved, redeemed, adopted!

I will join with the angels and sing..."Glory to the newborn King... God and sinners ( that's me) reconciled!" Glory to God in the Highest be praised, we have been given the most valuable Christmas present of all, Salvation and a place in God's family!

I thank God for His "fullness of time"... and fullness of grace.

"Untangling Christmas"

Recently when I was sick I downloaded several free, or inexpensive Christmas books for Kindle. I have been reading, "Untangling Christmas: Your go to guide for a Hassle Free Holiday" by Karen Ehman and LeAnn Rice.

Just the cover caught my eye with the Christmas lights tangled around the young woman's legs. That's a good example of how we feel as busy women during the holidays! Why do we do that to ourselves?

Some good ideas she has are to talk to your family members and ask them what Christmas traditions are important to them. Even the dishes you fix. Does your family even like them? There are a lot of things that we put on ourselves during the holidays that maybe your family doesn't even like. So why not just let it go? You don't have to bake that fruitcake that nobody even likes! You don't have to do Christmas cards if it is something that takes up too much time away from what is important. Learn to let some things go!

One of the main themes in the book is: "Simplify, What speaks "Christmas" to you and your particular loved ones? Whatever doesn't... : LET IT GO. Just keep the Christmas traditions that unify your family and that are meaningful. So ask yourself, "What else can you let go of and not feel guilty about?"

Karen says, "Let's let go of "Perfect", our house doesn't have to look like it was featured on HGTV." We don't have to try to be Martha Stewart. ( She might need to get real anyway!)

She asks, " Are we trying to make memories and celebrate Jesus or are we trying to keep pace with the holiday crowd running beside us with no idea where they are headed?"

" Just where are you headed? Toward Christ and calm or toward clamor and chaos!"

I like the Chapter entitled "To Face Unafraid The Plans That We've Made". What kinds of grand plans have you made for you and your family for this Christmas? Can you face it "unafraid", or do you dread it because you have bitten off more than you can chew?

Karen had a great idea in her book about putting a box under your tree with pieces of paper that you have written things you want to do for Jesus in the coming year. Also put a nativity scene under the tree to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. I like this idea. I think we will incorporate this for our family.

I did send out Christmas cards this year, but not as many. This Christmas season let's take a time-out for ourselves. Time to pause, " Bible and heart opened wide, and ponder the wonder of Christmas- the Word- made- flesh who came to earth in a lowly manger so we might have eternal life."

So let's take this good advice from one of the Chapter titles and "Seek the Saviour", wise "women" do still seek Him.

Stop and ask yourself, "Am I all tangled up this Christmas?" We don't have to be. Take some time and reflect on all the things that you are trying to get accomplished this Christmas. You may want to cut some of these things out. Cut your to-do list. It's okay, give yourself a break. Your family and friends will not mind. They will still have a good Christmas, and they will still love you. No one is giving out super-woman awards anyway!

So, let's "Untangle" our Christmas. What do you say?!

Jesus Christ, " The Branch"

What is one thing that rich or poor has to have during Christmas? I think it's probably a Christmas tree. I want to think about the meaning of part of the tree today.

The "Branch"

The part of the tree that branches out away from the trunk.

I have been studying prophetic verses about Christ during this Christmas season. Today I want to reflect on the "Branch" scriptures.

Zechariah 3:8 says, "... I am going to bring in My servant, the Branch."

Zechariah 6:12 "... Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD."

Isaiah 4:2 " In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the pride and adornment of the survivors of Israel.

Isaiah 11:1 " Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit."

Jeremiah 23:5 " Behold, the days are coming", declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land."

Jeremiah 33:15 " In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth."

The "Branch" is a "growth" or literally "sprout". This is a "sprout" of Yahweh (LORD) Himself. The righteous "shoot" (tsemah) appeared to be decayed or dead, but it was not.

Joseph came from the line of David, but his family had seemingly lost all claims to the throne because they were poor. But this dynasty of David's tree would burst forth like a shoot.

This ruler, Jesus. will spring forth, or bud forth as a Righteous plant. He is the blossom of the Jewish nation that will spring forth from what appears to be a dead stump.

The coming Messiah would be a joy and honor in the days of calamity to the Jews. But not only that, this branch became "beautiful". He sprouted and brought forth fruits of divine grace, righteousness, reconciliation, peace, pardon, adoption, sanctification and eternal life. He also became "glorious". He was glorious when He rose from the dead.

The gospel IS the fruit of the Branch.

This Christmas when you take off your ornaments that you placed on the tree, let's think about Christ "The Branch".

He needs no ornaments, He was the Branch, and yet He Himself was also the ornaments. He brought forth these glorious "ornaments" that I mentioned above. The peace, pardon, grace, salvation, etc.

These are the most glorious, and beautiful ornaments of all.

You and I as Christians have been en grafted into Jesus Christ, The Branch. Romans 11:16-24.

Who knows? Maybe next year when you put your tree up you will remember about Christ,
"The Branch", and you will stand back and look at this bear tree, think about Christ and all that He gave to us and say, " Thank you Lord that You are my beautiful and glorious Branch."

Let's think differently about the Christmas tree from now on. That the most beautiful part of the Christmas tree are not the ornaments... but the Branch.

( I credit part of this information which was gathered from commentaries from Biblios.com)

"God Make You Strong and Valiant Gentlemen"

The Christmas carol, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is over 500 years old.
It is a song of Joy and Celebration. We often sing Christmas Carols each year because of tradition
without knowing their meaning, and such is the case with this Christmas carol.

I recently received a devotional from "Girlfriends in God" and they were talking about the actual meaning of this. So I also researched it and it was interesting to find out the true, historical meaning of this carol.

To understand the first line of the hymn, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," years ago, the words
"rest" and "merry" had different meanings. "Merry" meant strong or valiant, as
in Robin Hood and his merry men: they were not happy, but strong and valiant.
Rest meant, "to make." So the line means, "God make you strong and valiant,
gentlemen." The next line then makes sense, "Let nothing you dismay". How can we be strong and courageous in the face of difficulties? The next line tells us how.

"Remember, Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day." The coming of God to be
with us and that He might bear our sins is sufficient reason to be strong and courageous in this world. If God be for us my friends, then who can be against us?
So... God rest ye merry, Gentlemen (and women).

The real meaning of this IS "good tidings of comfort and joy!"