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MeMaw Thoughts
Number 462
February 3, 2020///

Here are some thoughts I turned into three short verses!

“So, bow with me in the throne room of heaven,
My Masters Touch is all that I need!
His life for me has already been given,
The fellowship is awesome and sweet!”
COME REST WITH ME IN THE SELAH PLACE!

“Lord hear my heart, when words can’t be spoken!
My tears that flow speak words loud and clear!
You look from above on a heart that is broken,
And out of your Love wipe away ever tear!
COME REST WITH ME IN THE SELAH PLACE!

How great is your Love, that sent us a Savior,
from heaven above to give us new life!
You came to give peace and show us your favor!
You cause a heart change that frees us from strife!
COME REST WITH ME IN THE SELAH PLACE!

Selah
Selah (/ˈsiːlə(h)/; Hebrew: סֶלָה, also transliterated as selāh) is a word used 74 times in the Hebrew Bible—seventy-one times in the Psalms and three times in the Book of Habakkuk. It is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like “stop and listen.” Another proposal is that Selah can be used to indicate that there is to be a musical interlude at that point in the Psalm. The Amplified Bible translates selah as “pause and think of that.”

I think that sometimes we rush through our reading of the word without taking time to pause and think about that or to stop and listen to what the Holy Spirit wants to show us through the scripture we just read!

Sometimes we rush through our prayer time anxious to get all our request in without taking the time to think about the promises God has given us and how big our God is!

We sing through songs without ever truly allowing the words to seep deep into our innermost being!

The longer I live, the more I believe the true growth in our Spirit comes when we pause and think about how much the Lord God has Blessed us and what the Cross means and sit in His presence and let His love strengthen and empower us!

As I was having my quiet time with the Lord one morning, the verses at the start of this blog, come pouring from my pen.

He is truly all we need, and He provides for us consistently and desires to fellowship and be our comforter.

On the bottom of my nephew, Dave’s, emails is a John Piper quote that is worth taking a Selah moment and thinking about!

“GOD IS ALWAYS DOING 10,000 THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, AND YOU MAY BE AWARE OF THREE OF THEM.”

Pause and think about that!

Another precious friend has this on the bottom of her email:

“WHEN YOU CARRY THE BIBLE, SATAN GETS A HEADACHE….. WHEN YOU OPEN IT, HE COLLAPSES….. WHEN HE SEES YOU READING IT, HE FAINTS….. WHEN HE SEES THAT YOU ARE LIVING WHAT YOU READ, HE FLEES…..”

Stop and listen to yourself as you read that out loud!

I am convinced that there is so much good we hear and read but we are rushing through our days and just do not take Selah moments to take in their truth.

A familiar verse in the Bible sums up what I am trying to point out today!

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God:                                            SELAH!
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Father God, I sit in your presence and I bask in you Love. With you all things are possible. Nothing is to hard for you and you desire to Bless your children. I position my heart to hear and my mind to pause and think about your Love and care! Fill each person who reads this with a Spirit of ease and rest in you. Let each of us understand you are on our side. In Jesus name I ask! Amen!

Stop and think about His Love! Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 461
January 28, 2020///

If I had a title to this week’s thoughts it would be “In the Shelter of His arms!”

Think back to your childhood and how your fear would dissipate, and the scare would disappear when you were in the shelter of your mom or dads’ arms!

Maybe you woke from a bad dream or felt like some ominous creature was lurking under your bed or in your closet but the moment you felt a parent’s arms of Love and Care around you, all was right with the world.

I remember growing up my Dad worked at night so after school I was alone in the house for a little while until my Mother got home from her job.

It still warms my heart to remember how the atmosphere in the house changed when she walked in the door. Suddenly all was right with the world.

I may have tried to learn to make biscuits like she did and wasted a LOT of flour, but her hug made everything ok.

I may have started to make the salad for supper as instructed and used cabbage instead of lettuce but when Mom appeared it was ok.

During the summer and nights when Dad was off his humor and love would erase whatever school or any other concern I had.

Their example and their Love for God and His Word gave me an understanding that when we receive what Jesus did on the Cross, we can run into the arms of our Father God and find shelter and acceptance and Love.

Psalm 61:3 (KJV)
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Psalm 17:8 (KJV)
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psalm 143:9 (KJV)
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

Are you overwhelmed? Are you confused? Are you scared of what tomorrow may bring? Is fear over taking you? Are you uncertain which way to go or what to do?

Just run into those arms of Love. Snuggle under those protective wings and allow the Creator God to dispel all the darkness, uncertainty and fear.

Fear is a tool of satan to keep us from being at rest and accomplishing our purpose on this earth.

But just as being in my Mom and Dad’s arms, or just having them walk in the house set all thing aright, being in the shelter of the most high brings peace to the turmoil we may be facing!

Psalm 71:3 (KJV)
Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 62:7 (KJV)
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

I knew when Mom got home or Dad got home, or Mom and/or Dad got to wherever I was, they would take care of me and would handle any situation!

Maybe you did not have a Dad or Mom you could run to or depend on!

May I tell you that you have a Heavenly Father who dotes on you and calls you the apple of His eye and wants to protect and fight your battles.

But we must run into the shelter of His arms and just allow Him to take care of us.

We must allow Him to give us the peace and understanding deep within that everything is alright, and we are loved and protected by the greater one than all others!

Psalm 91:4 (KJV)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalm 61:2 (KJV)
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

When life gets you down, when your overwhelmed by fears and uncertainty, run to the one who Loves you more than you will ever comprehend! He’s got this!!!
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Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I thank you that I can rest in the shelter of your arms! Thank you that you have myriads of angels that you dispatch to fight my battles. I surrender every fear, hurt and confusion to you and just allow you to Love and Protect me. May each person reading this feel your Loving presence and know that in spite of the chaos in this world, that you are our shelter and our strong tower. Amen

Walk in His warmth and peace!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 460
January 21, 2020///

“Whose report will you believe!”

“If God is for us, who can be against us!”

“With God all things are possible!”

Sunday Pastor Rick preached on looking inside. Then I was privileged to hear two of grand-sons-in-law preach. Jeremy preached on being a prisoner of the Hope that Jesus places inside us and Timothy preached on being called a Mighty Man of Valor even when you are (like Gideon) the least of the least!

All three sermons were on looking on the inside, what God is calling you to, what He promised He will bring to pass.

May I say to you this morning that God is calling to that vision and dream that you think will never happen.

When the spies were sent from the camp of the Children of Israel to spy out the land God had promised them, they came back with conflicting reports. Joshua and Caleb said, “we are well able to take the land”, but the other ten spies said, “we are like grasshoppers in their sight, they are too much for us”.

Because the people believed the Ten over the Two, they wondered around in the wilderness until that generation had passed away.

Whose report are we believing. Are we going to let our generation pass and not see God’s promise come to pass because of unbelief?

We must look at what God says about us, our abilities, and our circumstances. God will bring to pass those things He has called us to when we lock ourselves into the Prison of Hope.

Instead of rehearsing in our minds and spirits what others are saying or what is logical we need to think and meditate on who God says we are and what He has created us to do.

We need to look at others through the eyes of Jesus and begin to see who God intended them to be. Who does God say your children are? Speak that into their ears!

God may give you an illogical direction but when we understand who He is and that He created all things, that impossibility becomes possible because it is all about Him, not about us.

When Samuel went to Jessies house to anoint the next King of Israel, Jessie just left his youngest son David in the field caring for the sheep.

His other sons were older, more handsome and surly one of them was to be anointed the King to follow Saul!

But God: God saw what He had created within David and knew that David, no matter how it looked now, was to be anointed the next King of Israel!

Let us look at this pivotal verse. This verse spoken to Samuel about one of David’s older brothers is also what God is saying to us.

1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; FOR MAN LOOKETH ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKETH ON THE HEART.

God says to you this day, do not concentrate on what you look like you can be or do. I see you as what I created you to be. Come to my prison of Hope and allow me to do the impossible in your life.

God has been instructing us at Joshua’s Place, during our Friday night prayers to pray bold prayers. Prayers for things that can only come to pass as the almighty God orchestrates all that needs to happen.

What a privilege to know that if we truly say to the Lord Jesus with a pure and sincere heart what Mary said to the angel Gabriel, we will see those dreams and vison begin to happen.

Luke 1:38 (KJV)
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.

May we truly grasp the fact that if we say, “your will be done” and take one step at a time, we will see the impossible become the possible!

“WHOSE REPORT WILL YOU BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THE REPORT OF THE LORD!”

May it be so in each of our lives!
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Father, you see us as you created us to be and when you give a promise you accompany it with hope. May we grasp and become a prisoner of that hope that we can be all you created us to be no matter our background, education or opportunities. May we mediate on all that you have placed deep in our spirits and may we see it in our hearts. May each one reading this believe the report of the Lord! In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen!

Believe the report of the Lord!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 459
January 14, 2020///

Yesterday morning I stood in my closet looking for a particular shirt! It just was not there! Knowing I had just washed it a few days before and hung it up, I looked on the floor, through the shirts again and then walked away not understanding what had happened.

I went back to the closet to get a different shirt and in one last try looked where I knew it should be and it was there.

Did it miraculously appear the second time I looked? Of course not! I just did not see it the first time even though I looked carefully.

Now, I’m not going to try to say that the enemy of all that is good caused me not to see my shirt, but I am going to tell you that the enemy of your soul, the devil, will blind you to the truths of God’s word and who you are in Him and what is going on around you.

The Bible warns us about seeing correctly or seeing with eyes that have been anointed by the Lord Jesus. Or seeing with Spiritual eyes, if you will!

Matthew 13:16 (KJV)
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Matthew 13:16 (MSG)
But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear!

Jesus tells us here in Matthew that eyes that see are Blessed! Well unless you are physically impaired, if you have eyes, you see. Jesus was talking about seeing through eyes that see as Jesus sees. Eyes that see people as they can be and not as what they are doing.

Jesus was talking about seeing yourself as He sees you and understanding who you are in Him.

But the evil one, the devil, does not want you to see truth and so we are inundated with lies and deception to the point we think it is the truth.

Mark 8:18 (KJV)
Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

Jeremiah 5:21 (KJV)
Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

Deception starts out as a tiny seed planted in our mind. Then we grasp it and begin to act like it is true!

When I look around at those who claim to be the children of the Creator God, I feel like we are in a time like Ezekiel spoke of! We are living in a time of great rebellion against God and His word. Even among Christians we sometimes find attitudes of wrong is right and right is wrong!

Ezekiel 12:2 (KJV)
Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

We need to pray like Elisha did when he was surrounded by the enemy and his servant was expressing concern.

2 Kings 6:17 (KJV)
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Elisha prayed and the servant was then able to see they were surround with the army of God ready to fight for them. What a concept. May we pray that we and those around us can see with the spirit and understand that the Greater on lives in us and that His truth will override the lies and deception of the world around us.

In the message John was given to the churches in the book of Revelation part of the message to the church at Laodicea, which was the church that was neither cold not hot, should be our prayer for ourselves and others!

Revelation 3:18 B (KJV)
and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

We must pray that our eyes are anointed with the eye salve of the word of the Living God and the truth that we are created on purpose for a purpose. The truth that sets us free and obliterates the lies and deception of satan ever time.

Oh, what a difference seeing with Blessed and Anointed eyes makes! We could approach each day with assurance that we make a difference in this world. We can see those around us a created vessel of Almighty God even when they are not acknowledging Him.

We can see our adverse circumstances as God sees them and understand “If God be for us who can be against us!”

LORD, OPEN OUR EYES THAT WE MAY SEE!!

Father, you are truth and you are right, and you fight our battles. May each of us see with Spiritual eyes the truths that will set us free! Open our eyes and anoint them with your truth! I decree and declare it in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen!

Let God open your eyes! Love, MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 458
January 7, 2020///

Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (MSG)
6 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
7 Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

One translation says “Do not be anxious about anything…”

Do you ever long for living without any worries or concerns. Many times we say we do not worry, we are just concerned but if we followed the scriptures above and understood that God longs to give us Peace and a sense of wholeness maybe even what we call concern would give way to walking in constant Faith and Victory.

I have noticed that when I am feeling Peace and Power with almighty God, I wonder why I would ever fret or doubt. Then if I am not diligent to guard my heart, I will find myself frustrated, agitated, and in turmoil inside because of some circumstances.

Have you been there? At that point each of us need to stop and recognize where the turmoil comes from and let the God of Peace fill us once again with the assurance that He is with us!

Psalm 46:10 (AMP) Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

We need to immediately cast our cares on Him!!

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

When our bodies do not want to cooperate with us or are in pain, He cares!

When our prayers seem fruitless, He cares!

When our child is sick, He cares!

When our family members are not honoring God, He cares!

When a loved on has died, He cares!

When the bills become due before the money is there, He cares!

When some people we love disagree and argue, He cares!

When the job we dedicated ourselves to is gone, He cares!

When our home seems to be in shambles, He cares!

When the phone call comes that we never want to get, He cares!

“Does Jesus care….oh, yes He cares!!!”

When we don’t feel Him, He cares!

Just keep walking and praising and casting all those concerns on Him. He has great big shoulders and great big hands and with His word He commands, and it is so.

But God needs you to Trust Him. Fear and doubt leave us without!

James tells us:
James 1:8 (KJV)
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

The answer then is to fill ourselves with the truth of His promises, fellowship on a continual bases with the Father, and meditate on His declarations and promises.

Then when we lose our peace, we just begin to repeat those promises and praise the Lord God Almighty that He has all things under control and our hearts will settle back into the rhythms of Grace and Peace.

My desire and declaration is that I will lay hold of this truth and walk in divine Peace even when the world is falling in around me. Praise in the Good and Praise in the bad!

Oh, what a Savior who made a way that we can travel through this life with the Peace and Power of Almighty God flowing through us!

Join me this year as I declare the Peace of God my constant companion!
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Father, you made the way for my Peace. I ask your forgiveness for when I have allowed turmoil to replace that Peace. It is not your will for your children to ever be out of Peace because you are with us! What a Joy to know I can lean on you and you will fight for me! I declare my Trust and Dependence on You, Father God and receive and walk in your Peace. Grant your Peace to all who read this! I ask in Jesus Name, Amen!

I desire you walk in Peace!
Love, MeMaw

MeMaw Thoughts
Number 457
January 1, 2020///

May God Bless you as we enter the year 2020. Yes, I am aware that I am doing MeMaw thoughts a day late. I will not bore you with all the reasons it did not get done yesterday but just know that God has an amazing year ahead for you.

What did the last moment of 2019 and the first moment of 2020, look like for you?

Were you asleep, with friends, with family, alone, trying to stay awake to see the year leave and begin a new decade?

As we are all aware, no matter what we were doing 2020 is now a reality.

May I tell you that no matter what we do each day, the next day will come. Whether we rejoice in this day, weep in this day, wallow in regret in this day, waste this day, or live it to its fullest for the Lord Jesus Christ, this day will pass, and tomorrow will come.

Then the next tomorrow and the next. If we are not taken to heaven by death or the rapture 2021 will come faster that we can imagine!

What will we have done with the day, the week, the month, the year, that the Lord God almighty has given us?

In everyplace in everything we as Sons and Daughters of the Creator God must honor Him and do all as unto Him.

As we sit in His presences, pray, study the Bible, rest our bodies, cook, clean, work, minister, reach out to the hurting around us, we are to do all as unto the Lord.

As we hug our kids, wipe runny noses and wash their clothes, do it all as unto the Lord God.

As we drive long distances or short distances to our jobs, do it as unto the Lord God.

Colossians 3:23 (KJV)
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

As we deal with uncaring employers, grouchy fellow workers, and work overload, do it as unto the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (KJV)
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

As we seek God’s direction for the next step in our life or our ministry, listen with an open heart and mind and He will direct your path.

Isaiah 30:21 (KJV)
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

As we embark on the journey of not just another year, but another decade may we keep in mind the we were created “On purpose, for a purpose”!

I encourage you to live each day to its fullest, praise and love in the good times, the hard times and the most difficult times. Praise releases the forces of the Lord God Almighty in our lives. Love is the expression of Jesus to others.

May we be the hands and feet of Jesus to our families, friends and all those we encounter in our life journey.

As you wonder what God has next for you and you continue to ask and listen, live each day as if that were the reason you were created. Who knows, it just might be!

The smile you give the weird looking kid in the store isle, just might be what keeps him from going home and taking the life God gave him.

The hug you give an acquaintance may be just what they need to continue to be the care giver for a loved one.

The prayer you pray for your grouchy boss may just cause him to hear or read the gospel and be changed for eternity.

The encouragement you give a child may cause that child to understand that the dream in their heart can be a reality because they are seen and loved.

As my most favorite Christmas movie (It’s a wonderful life) shows us, we affect more lives than we ever could comprehend.

May we affect them for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do all things unto the Lord!!

1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
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Father in Jesus name I come. I release to you all the failures and wrong decisions of 2019 and I release to you all the accomplishments or any good I may have done! I look forward to walking with you in my daily and lifetime destiny in 2020 and I release all of that to your Lordship! It is all about you and all for you! Bless all who read this and give them an amazing and wonderful year and beyond. Amen

May this be the greatest year ever. Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 456
December 24, 2019///

“Joy to the world, the Lord has come,
Let earth receive her king!”

John 1:14 (KJV)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

“Jesus, what a wonderful child!”

Matthew 1:21 (KJV)
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

“What Child is this!”

Can we even begin to comprehend the miracle of our Savior? God the Son, who was in the beginning, chose to come to earth as fully God and fully man and bridge the gap between man and God.

I’m not sure that our human minds can realize the totally significance of His coming, but I just want to worship and adore Him this Christmas Eve.

His Love transcends gender, race, heredity and limitations.

His Love reaches to each of us who take a breath and His Love reaches to wherever we are.

This one who came to set the captive free, made the Sun, Moon and Stars!

This one who opened blind eyes said let there be light and there was light!

This one who gave life to the lifeless, gives us living water flowing freely through our innermost being!

“Oh, Holy night!”

“Come Worship the King!”

My heart is overwhelmed as I understand that the one that wraps me in His Love and Mercy, came to fulfill the requirements of the law so I do not have to!!

I come today and lay my desires and dreams at His feet and He will Bless them and mold me into the vessel of honor I desire to be.

His presence is our present given freely, with out limits and without requirements.

The gift of abundant life that Jesus gives is to be received, lived to its fullest, and shared with those around us as our lives give Him Praise and Adoration!

If I were there on that Holy Night would I have bowed and worshipped, or would I have hesitated to go into a smelly stable and opt for comfort?

Even knowing and serving and basking in His Love do I hesitate to go into the hard-smelly places of life to show my love for Him by sharing and helping?

I pray that the love that Jesus shines abroad in my heart will override any discomfort of places He leads me or people He leads me to!

“Oh, love of God, so rich and pure, so marvelous and strong!”

I have quoted lines of familiar songs in this writing. I encourage you to listen to these wonderful words of truth in their entirety and allow the truth of this Christmas season fill you with the Peace that Passes all understanding!

“Holy is your name!”

“His name is wonderful!”

My one desire this Christmas Eve is that each of you who read this, and the entire world are filled with His Peace and His Glory covers that earth!

It is available to all who will receive! What a gift! What a Savior!
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Father, in Jesus name, I come with a heart of worship. My innermost being overflows with gratefulness that you do all things well. My mind is set free of worry because I can cast all my cares on you for you care for me. My body is healed because you bore stripes for my healing. I am free from guilt and shame because you bore my sin and sorrow on the Cross of Calvary. And you are my Lord and Master and my soon coming King. I worship and adore you because of who you are! Spread your loving arms around all who read this and let the warmth of your presences be their present this day. Amen

Have an incredible Christmas!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 455
December 17, 2019///

I am sure you are aware that one week from today is Christmas Eve!

So, I want to throw out to you some thought provoking questions!!

What is on your mind today?

Are you thinking of tinsel and bright lights or are you thinking of the light of the world that we are celebrating?

Are you thinking of the gifts left to buy or are you thinking of the gift of life Jesus came to give?

Are you thinking of the preparation for next week still to do or are you thinking of preparation with an eternal perspective?

Are you thinking about those less fortunate or only of you own needs and desires?

As we gallop or rush or stroll through this last week may we remember the reason we as Christians love and celebrate Christmas.

You notice the CHRIST in Christmas, but the social system of the world wants to take the Christ out of Christmas in more than just the name. They are trying to make it just a holiday.

But as children of the most high God, creator of the Universe, we understand that this is a most wonderful time of the year! Not because of stuff but of the stuff life is made of. Jesus came to give us real life.

It is most amazing to be able to celebrate with friends and families but may we not ever get so busy and so caught up in the rush to get it all right that we forget the King of Kings and Lord of Lords chose to come as a babe, to a less than ordinary birth place, so He could show us how to live and then take the sin from the entire world on the Cross of Calvary.

Our actions and reactions to those we meet in the stores and malls can show the world that Jesus brings Joy, Peace, and a spirit of ease in a world of chaos!

Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)
the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

God’s word will give you joy, and joy will give you strength. Then you can walk in peace, casting every care on Him. We do not have to live life alone, we can cast every decision and every care on the Lord Jesus, who understands.

As you prepare your homes for receiving family, or prepare yourself for travel to family, remember the reason that we get to celebrate. Jesus gives us abundantly life.

As you prepare to maybe spend Christmas alone for any one of various reasons, remember that you are never alone. Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you. If you are in that position in life, I encourage you to look at around and maybe find another person alone this holiday and celebrate together. Or find a place that you can serve others on that day and that will lift you up.

Maybe you can invite someone you know will be alone to celebrate with your family.

Maybe you can place a phone call to family who are far from you.

May we be God’s hand extended this season and may we carry that as a lifestyle into the new year. May we never forget the greatest gift of all!

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Luke 1:30-31 (KJV)
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

JESUS. the REASON for the season!!! Never forget it!!
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Father, thank you for the gift of life given through the entrance of Jesus into this world you created. May we always be mindful of the privilege we have to bring our cares and lay them at your feet because Jesus chose to give Himself for a world with no hope. May we be your hand extended this season and always. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I come. Amen

Remember the reason!!
Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 454
December 10, 2019///

This day I want to call your attention to the latter part of the story we know as “Noah and the Ark!”

This is a familiar story but as I was reading it last week the Holy Spirit showed me a truth through it that I will share with you.

In the ark was Noah, his wife and his son’s wives and two of some animals and seven of some animals. When the flood waters began to recede, the ark came to rest on Mt. Ararat and here is where this lesson begins.

Noah knew that they were to exit the ark and replenish the earth. But just think about this. If they had tried to exit the ark as soon as it stopped on the mountain, they would have sunk in the water as soon as they exited.

But even though they knew they were to exit the ark, they had to wait for the right time. Even though they were anxious to get out of this ark, they had to wait, in order to succeed.

I’m sure while waiting for the right timing and sending out the raven and dove, Noah was also leading his family in preparing themselves to exit the ark into God’s promised restored world.

Noah tested the timing several times with the raven and the dove and when the time was right, he, his wife and his son’s and their wives and all the animals came out of the ark and did not mar up in mud or drown in water.

May we understand that God has a timing and even though we may be anxious to get from where we are to where we know we are supposed to be, we must test the waters and follow God’s timing. Then it will be right!

May we be preparing in the waiting for the right time!

When we are in the waiting period we may sometimes go ahead and do what we know we are supposed to do even though it is not the right timing. Or we may give up because it is taking to long to see the promise fulfilled. But what we must do is to begin to test, prepare, and see if this is God’s timing.

Like Noah sent out a raven and dove, we can begin to share our vison with the right people, or inquire about the possibilities and keep going forward, never giving up!

When God calls you must answer with a willing heart and rest in His timing but do your part to test the timing.

Genesis 8:5-12 (AMP)
5 And the waters continued to diminish until the tenth month; on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the high hills were seen.
6 t the end of [another] forty days Noah opened a window of the ark which he had made
7 And sent forth a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters were dried up from the land.
8 Then he sent forth a dove to see if the waters had decreased from the surface of the ground.
9 But the dove found no resting-place on which to roost, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were [yet] on the face of the whole land. So he put forth his hand and drew her to him into the ark.
10 He waited another seven days and again sent forth the dove out of the ark.
11 And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a newly sprouted and freshly plucked olive leaf! So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the land.
12 Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, but she did not return to him any more.

18 And Noah went forth, and his wife and his sons and their wives with him [after being in the ark one year and ten days].

We should not get ahead nor lag behind God’s timing, but we should be actively flowing toward the timing of the Lord God Almighty!

What is the vision or dream on the inside of you? What do you need to do to see if you are to hold steady or march right out of the constraints of your personal ark into the future God has prepared?

You see it is His will in our lives that will make a difference, not our own will. It is the doors He opens that will change lives, not the ones we force open by sheer determination!!

Do we Trust our Heavenly Father enough to follow His timing? I pray each of your dreams and desires come forth in abundance in the timing of the Lord God Almighty!!!

Go forth in the power of His promise, and in His perfect timing! Don’t give up!

Jesus birth was foretold all through the Old Testament but:
Galatians 4:4 (KJV)
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
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Father, in Jesus name, I ask you to guide us into the truth of your timing. May we prepare for what we know you have called us to and may we wait patiently on your timing. Amen

Love, MeMaw

Me-Maw Thoughts
Number 453
December 3, 2019///

DECEMBER 2019!!!!!

Does that make anyone but me laugh. It seems only yesterday it was December 2018.

I have no idea where 2018 went. But I love December with all it’s craziness and busy schedules. I love the lights and all the decorations and all the good will it brings out in people.

I love that whether the world system is recognizing it or not they are participating in the biggest birthday celebration of every year.

To the retailers it may be about sales, to the agnostic or atheist it may be all about gifts and being with family or/and friends, and to the scrooges of the world it may be about just surviving. But, regardless, there is a celebration and a little love spread all around!!

But to the Christian it is all about the Gift of the Savior of the world, born in a stable, wrapped it cloths and laying in a manger. It is about the Gift of life to fallen man that was announced by heavens angels to the lowly shepherds doing their jobs on a hillside.

I’ve heard it said that the sheep they were caring for may have been some that would be sacrificed in the temple for the sin of the people.

But these shepherds were presented with the news that the “Lamb that Takes away the sin of the world”, was now born to begin the journey to the cross.

The entire area of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and surrounding places were busy with the tax registration, so caught up in their “duties” they may not have seen the angels had they been sent to them.

But here in the quiet of the hillside, the shepherds were privileged to hear the greatest news ever given, proclaimed from the heavens by messengers from the Lord God Almighty!

May I suggest that many of us in December become so bogged down with our “duties” that we forget to take time to sit in the quiet of His Presence so that His voice can be heard in our innermost being.

As we take time to sit in His presence, read Luke’s account in the Bible of the Birth of Jesus, may we allow Him to speak Peace to us, directions for our busy days and ways to reach out to the hurting all around us.

December is the loneliest month of the year for some. This December may be the first without a loved one who has gone on, but the comfort of knowing that God Loved enough to Give, should invade us with the Peace that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can give.

May we who are so blessed share with those who are hurting in various ways. May we remember that God the Father gave us the greatest of all gifts, as we give to others.

The light of the world was born so that we can walk if Faith and Victory!!

I challenge you this December to let go of the regrets of this past year, let go of the busyness that keeps us from enjoying this season, and take a part of everyday (even just a few minutes) and sit in the presence of the one who represents the Gift of Abundant Life, and just listen deep inside and let Him give you the Joy and Peace that should be flowing from all Christians in this most wonderful time of the year!

May I challenge you that whether you are in a busy mall, working on gatherings or special programs or baking or decorating or wondering how to pay for those things you want to buy for others, you will remember what the holiday is all about.

The Savior came!! The Angels proclaimed!! The Shepherds, heard, went and worshipped, and rejoiced!

May we hear, worship and rejoice!

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:11-14 (KJV)
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men
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Father, In Jesus name I come. Thank you for the Gift of Life through Jesus! Thank you, Jesus, that you chose to come to show us how to live and die in our place and overcome death and hell and be resurrected the third day. Thank you for the celebration of your birth, Jesus! You are real and you change hearts and lives and you care for each of us with a Love that we cannot comprehend. Amen!

Jesus is the reason for the season!! I rejoice in the celebration of December!!
Love, MeMaw