If your like me, perhaps you get a little caught up in Christmas business and devotion time gets set aside. This is for you, a reminder of His great love and the gifts he bestows on us daily.
December 9, 2010 The Gift Giver
By Rachel Olsen
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)
On Christmas morning I’ll watch with joyful anticipation as my family opens the gifts that I’ve given them. I can’t wait to see their faces light up with surprised pleasure and gratefulness. In moments like these I understand why Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35, NIV).
A few years ago my daughter reached the age where she could find the hidden stash of unwrapped presents if she really tried. So I warned her that if she peeked, and I found out about it, I would return those presents to the store and she would not receive them.
Sounds a bit harsh I know, but I really wanted her to learn some important lessons: to exercise self-control and delayed gratification, and to respect the act of giving by not robbing me of the pleasure of seeing her open her presents for the first time. I wanted her to see that giving and receiving are irreversibly linked, and good for both parties involved.
It’s essential for God’s children to respect the act of giving as well as receiving – He calls us to live a life of both. I also believe it can help us better understand God’s core nature and our relationship with Him. God is a gift-giver! And He always knows the exact perfect gift to give. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17, NIV).
Let’s unwrap today some of the awesome gifts He has given us …
He’s given us physical life: “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 (NIV)
And eternal life: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)
He’s given us family: “God sets the lonely in families …” Psalm 68:6 (NIV)
He’s given us wisdom: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NIV)
He’s given us peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27 (NIV)
He’s given us joy: “You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)
He’s given us rest: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
He’s given us a personal counselor: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you.” John 14:16 (NIV)
He’s given us an inheritance: “…you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Colossians 3:24 (NIV)
And He’s given us freedom: “God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.” 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)
In return for all these glorious gifts, God simply wants us to receive and respond with thankfulness and a heart that is ready to emulate His gracious nature. I can’t think of a better time than now to respond with gratefulness and enjoy the act of giving and receiving – Merry Christmas!
Dear Lord, thank You for Your graciousness towards me. I praise Your generosity! Help me to receive all You have for me in the coming year. And help me to value giving as much as I value receiving, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Also, a reminder that we are meeting at the Shopping Town Mall play space on Friday the 17th at 10am. Everyone will be happy, shop and play!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Fire Station Fun!
Our "field trip" to Moyers Corners Fire Station was a lot of fun, and all the kids got to see the trucks and firemen up close.
They all went home with fire hats to remember their day out.
They all went home with fire hats to remember their day out.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Reminders...
Next Friday is the outing at Moyers Corners Fire Dept in Liverpool at 10 am. The little guys will love it I'm sure.
And...if you haven't yet signed up for a play day at someone's home, think about it, there will be a new sign up at MEET in December.
Have a great week everyone!
And...if you haven't yet signed up for a play day at someone's home, think about it, there will be a new sign up at MEET in December.
Have a great week everyone!
Devoted
I found a great devotional for this week from Christian Women Today and wanted to share it with you. I hope it helps!
Written by Julie Cosgrove
Feeling pressure to be perfect? Talk to us.
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (James 1:23-24).
Ladies, when you look in the mirror do you see what others see? Our own perception of ourselves is often clouded by emotions, experiences and self-evaluations. We forget we are actually seeing ourselves backwards.
Our left is really our right and vice versa. We also notice every little flaw, magnified. Is that what we are reflecting? We pray people won’t see our natural face. We’d rather cover it up with makeup – reduce the flaws, erase the imperfections.
Have you ever seen a photograph of yourself and thought, “Do I really look like that?” I have. I am probably the least photogenic person in the world. I have my own idea of the way I appear. Sometimes I think the whole world is noticing the mole on my chin, the new wrinkles around my eyes, not the color of eye shadow I have on that matches my blouse. Other times I fool myself into thinking no one will notice my flaws. Both are vanity, both focus on me.
Christ calls us to mirror Him. When people see us, they are to see His light shining through us in spite of our flaws. That is, if we are doers of the Word not merely listeners. When we do God’s will, we should see ourselves differently because we are projecting Him to the world. He’ll always present us in the best Light – His own.
But, if we try to plaster over our flaws and not let others see us and what He is doing in our lives, when we try to cover up everything, we no longer trust Him to present us to the world the way He wishes. We appear fake.
Not to say we should not strive to look our best. Of course we should. But no matter how good we try to look to others, if we don’t have Christ shining through our countenance, we’ll never look our best. Why? Because He is the best. We will not see Him mirrored in us and neither will others. We’ll walk away and go about our business trying to impress the world, and perhaps ourselves. We’ll forget that we are beautiful in His sight, and therefore, attractive to the world.
Question: Do you see yourself as Christ sees you? Do others?
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Learn how to be filled with the Holy Spirit
Written by Julie Cosgrove
Feeling pressure to be perfect? Talk to us.
“For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (James 1:23-24).
Ladies, when you look in the mirror do you see what others see? Our own perception of ourselves is often clouded by emotions, experiences and self-evaluations. We forget we are actually seeing ourselves backwards.
Our left is really our right and vice versa. We also notice every little flaw, magnified. Is that what we are reflecting? We pray people won’t see our natural face. We’d rather cover it up with makeup – reduce the flaws, erase the imperfections.
Have you ever seen a photograph of yourself and thought, “Do I really look like that?” I have. I am probably the least photogenic person in the world. I have my own idea of the way I appear. Sometimes I think the whole world is noticing the mole on my chin, the new wrinkles around my eyes, not the color of eye shadow I have on that matches my blouse. Other times I fool myself into thinking no one will notice my flaws. Both are vanity, both focus on me.
Christ calls us to mirror Him. When people see us, they are to see His light shining through us in spite of our flaws. That is, if we are doers of the Word not merely listeners. When we do God’s will, we should see ourselves differently because we are projecting Him to the world. He’ll always present us in the best Light – His own.
But, if we try to plaster over our flaws and not let others see us and what He is doing in our lives, when we try to cover up everything, we no longer trust Him to present us to the world the way He wishes. We appear fake.
Not to say we should not strive to look our best. Of course we should. But no matter how good we try to look to others, if we don’t have Christ shining through our countenance, we’ll never look our best. Why? Because He is the best. We will not see Him mirrored in us and neither will others. We’ll walk away and go about our business trying to impress the world, and perhaps ourselves. We’ll forget that we are beautiful in His sight, and therefore, attractive to the world.
Question: Do you see yourself as Christ sees you? Do others?
TAKE THE NEXT STEP: Learn how to be filled with the Holy Spirit
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Devoted
I found a great website for moms and wives. This is just one of her many devotionals. Check it out. http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/caressa/Devotions/changemydesirelord.html
Change My Desire, Lord
What happens when I have an emotional need which has no reasonable hope of ever being fulfilled? Through years of prayer, and deep thought about this, I came to a new concept. When a hope becomes a dying dream, and makes me miserable, perhaps the thing to do is to ask God to help me stop feeling sorry for myself, and simply take away the need!
There are some needs which God has not seen fit to fulfill. I'm so grateful that my mother taught me not to ask "why", in early childhood. It has made it so much easier for me to accept difficulties without question, all of my life. For I could so easily question the Lord. Doesn't the Bible say if I delight myself in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart?
* Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psa 37:4
A very important point that most people don't mention, is that the Bible doesn't explain which desires God will give, or when He will fulfill them.
Perhaps He has a different gift to bless me with, so my old desire needs to be revised to a new one. Like switching radio channels when you hear only fuzz; and the new one comes in much more clearly over the radio waves. Is that what the Bible means, when it says He will put a new song in my heart? (This is in the Bible nine times.)
And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psa 40:3
God may put a new desire in my heart, which He IS ready to fulfill.
At a later time, the old desire may return; and that time might be God's time to give it to me. But peace is of the Lord, and pain and sadness are of the enemy. So an ongoing longing which is simply not getting fulfilled, is certainly a torment from the pit of Hell.
I know absolutely, that God's timing is perfect. He created me. My human needs were given by Him, and will be satisfied by Him, in His own perfect time. Whether He gives them, or changes them, they will be satisfied. I can trust Him implicitly. If I have an sorrowful gnawing craving, it is for my own good. He has a reason for allowing everything.
All as God wills, Who wisely heeds
To give or to withhold,
And knoweth more of all my needs,
Than all my prayers have told.
Enough that blessings undeserved
Have marked my erring track;
That, wheresoe'er my feet have swerved,
His chastening turned me back.
That more and more a providence
Of love is understood,
Making the springs of time and sense
Sweet with eternal good.
John G. Whittier (1807-1892)
God is the author of peace. He is the author and finisher of a happy heart.
Please erase my unfulfilled longing, Father, and replace this sorrow with a new hope, a new song, a new desire. Change the focus of my heart, and help me adjust my thoughts, so that I keep my eyes on You, instead of my own feelings. Perhaps my new desire could be something I could do for You. I ask for a new one, to replace the old. I don't want to care about the old one any more. I am weary with my sorrow, and wish for a taste of Your pure joy.
Only God can solve the problem of an aching yearning. But He can. Oh, yes He can. Father, with absolute faith, from the center of my heart, I surrender this longing to you.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896
I did pray this prayer last year, with tears of sincerity. And my prayer was answered quickly. A marvelous new interest caught my attention, and a deep fascination with it filled my mind. It kept me so busy every day, I nearly forgot my old yearning. I know that God gave me this new interest. He wants me to be happy, even if I can't have what I want, when I want it! It's been three-quarters of a year now, and I live day by day with peace, and so much more joy! How I praise my Heavenly Father!
2005 Rosemary Gwaltney
Change My Desire, Lord
What happens when I have an emotional need which has no reasonable hope of ever being fulfilled? Through years of prayer, and deep thought about this, I came to a new concept. When a hope becomes a dying dream, and makes me miserable, perhaps the thing to do is to ask God to help me stop feeling sorry for myself, and simply take away the need!
There are some needs which God has not seen fit to fulfill. I'm so grateful that my mother taught me not to ask "why", in early childhood. It has made it so much easier for me to accept difficulties without question, all of my life. For I could so easily question the Lord. Doesn't the Bible say if I delight myself in Him, He will give me the desires of my heart?
* Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psa 37:4
A very important point that most people don't mention, is that the Bible doesn't explain which desires God will give, or when He will fulfill them.
Perhaps He has a different gift to bless me with, so my old desire needs to be revised to a new one. Like switching radio channels when you hear only fuzz; and the new one comes in much more clearly over the radio waves. Is that what the Bible means, when it says He will put a new song in my heart? (This is in the Bible nine times.)
And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psa 40:3
God may put a new desire in my heart, which He IS ready to fulfill.
At a later time, the old desire may return; and that time might be God's time to give it to me. But peace is of the Lord, and pain and sadness are of the enemy. So an ongoing longing which is simply not getting fulfilled, is certainly a torment from the pit of Hell.
I know absolutely, that God's timing is perfect. He created me. My human needs were given by Him, and will be satisfied by Him, in His own perfect time. Whether He gives them, or changes them, they will be satisfied. I can trust Him implicitly. If I have an sorrowful gnawing craving, it is for my own good. He has a reason for allowing everything.
All as God wills, Who wisely heeds
To give or to withhold,
And knoweth more of all my needs,
Than all my prayers have told.
Enough that blessings undeserved
Have marked my erring track;
That, wheresoe'er my feet have swerved,
His chastening turned me back.
That more and more a providence
Of love is understood,
Making the springs of time and sense
Sweet with eternal good.
John G. Whittier (1807-1892)
God is the author of peace. He is the author and finisher of a happy heart.
Please erase my unfulfilled longing, Father, and replace this sorrow with a new hope, a new song, a new desire. Change the focus of my heart, and help me adjust my thoughts, so that I keep my eyes on You, instead of my own feelings. Perhaps my new desire could be something I could do for You. I ask for a new one, to replace the old. I don't want to care about the old one any more. I am weary with my sorrow, and wish for a taste of Your pure joy.
Only God can solve the problem of an aching yearning. But He can. Oh, yes He can. Father, with absolute faith, from the center of my heart, I surrender this longing to you.
All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.
Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896
I did pray this prayer last year, with tears of sincerity. And my prayer was answered quickly. A marvelous new interest caught my attention, and a deep fascination with it filled my mind. It kept me so busy every day, I nearly forgot my old yearning. I know that God gave me this new interest. He wants me to be happy, even if I can't have what I want, when I want it! It's been three-quarters of a year now, and I live day by day with peace, and so much more joy! How I praise my Heavenly Father!
2005 Rosemary Gwaltney
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Activities Update
Are you ready for some fall fun! Here's all the great activities planned for us!
Oct 1st 9:30-11 Welcome Back to MEET and craft
Oct 15th 10 am Tim's Pumpkin Patch in Marietta, NY
Nov 5th 9:30-11 MEET
Nov 19th 10am Moyer's Corners Fire Station #2 (Morgan Rd)
Dec 3rd 9:30-11 MEET
Dec 17th 10am Great Northern Mall Play Area
See you there!
Oct 1st 9:30-11 Welcome Back to MEET and craft
Oct 15th 10 am Tim's Pumpkin Patch in Marietta, NY
Nov 5th 9:30-11 MEET
Nov 19th 10am Moyer's Corners Fire Station #2 (Morgan Rd)
Dec 3rd 9:30-11 MEET
Dec 17th 10am Great Northern Mall Play Area
See you there!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Devoted: Week 4
2 Corinthians 4: 16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Do you ever think about what you can't see? Probably not much, we are very busy with our mom activities, house cleaning, child rearing, and whatever! But as all this goes on we are being renewed! And we are achieving eternal glory! Talk about multi-tasking. God is the ultimate multi-tasker and he is using what we do, think, say, to make us more like Him. To renew us. To secure our place in Heaven with Him. That brings so much joy to my heart, that I don't even mind so much my to-do list. And even though everything here on this earth will pass away, what we do still matters. Remember your treasures in Heaven, prepare for them, and count on them.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Do you ever think about what you can't see? Probably not much, we are very busy with our mom activities, house cleaning, child rearing, and whatever! But as all this goes on we are being renewed! And we are achieving eternal glory! Talk about multi-tasking. God is the ultimate multi-tasker and he is using what we do, think, say, to make us more like Him. To renew us. To secure our place in Heaven with Him. That brings so much joy to my heart, that I don't even mind so much my to-do list. And even though everything here on this earth will pass away, what we do still matters. Remember your treasures in Heaven, prepare for them, and count on them.
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