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I love these verses in Matt 11:28-30, which remind us that God’s yoke is easy. When we are tight with Him and His will, symbolically yoked to Him, our way gets easier. When we trust Him and simply obey, we experience the very best that life has to offer. When we wander off from His presence is when our way gets hard. Giving Him our burdens makes us lighter. In the Psalms it says that the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter, even unto the full light of day. As His disciples, we are headed toward His light. When we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with God. What a beautiful picture that paints. We are not alone; we are in the very presence of God, having fellowship with Him. In His presence we can receive the wisdom, the insight, and the power we need to walk out our earth life in the peace of God. He is our Oasis. He is our Peace. He is our Confidence. He is our Life. He is our Rest, and our soft place to fall. What a privilege to stand before the presence of our King. He deserves our praises, our adoration, and our obedience.

Trust and Obey (When We Walk With the Lord) by Daniel Brink Towner, John Henry Sammis

Verse 1
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey

Chorus
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

Verse 2
Not a shadow can rise
Not a cloud in the skies
But His smile quickly drives it away
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey

Verse 3
Not a burden we bear
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay
Not a grief nor a loss
Not a frown nor a cross
But is blessed if we trust and obey

Verse 4
But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows
And the joy He bestows
Are for those who will trust and obey

Verse 5
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear only trust and obey

Word of the Day: Matt 11:28-30
Song of the Day: Trust and Obey (When We Walk With the Lord) by Daniel Brink Towner, John Henry Sammis

In Psalms 84:8-12, David says that he would rather spend one day in God’s house than thousand days anywhere else. He would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house than to dwell at ease in the tents of wickedness. I love that he would rather serve like an usher or a greeter in church (isn’t that what a doorkeeper is?) than be seen, served or live in a wicked place. He has such great love for the house of God. He also connected loving with serving. Serving is part of church life. We get that example from Christ. Love serves! Jesus didn’t come to be served but to serve. We shouldn’t come to church to be served, but to serve. We should be asking, how can we help? How can we participate to make things flow smoother? How can we be a blessing to our pastors, or the staff, or the different ministries that are available? How can we keep the building looking nice? How can we participate in services or events to make the ministry more effective? There are so many ways to serve in the body. It takes the up-front things, and many more things behind the scenes. Think of prayer and our church should be called a house of prayer. We want the atmosphere to be ripe for God to do what needs to be done, that happens behind the scenes, because God’s people have a love for His house. Think of all the amazing children’s ministry workers, or youth workers who make those ministries run. Not only do they make things relevant, they find creative ways to get the Word of God into our kids. That all happens behind the scenes, by people who love God’s house. I hope your prayer aligns with David’s. Better is one day in Your house, than thousands elsewhere. We believe church life is important to growing as a believer.

Better is One Day by Matt Redman

Verse 1
How lovely is Your dwelling place
O Lord almighty
For my soul longs and even faints for You
For here my heart is satisfied
Within Your presence
I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings
Chorus
Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere
Verse 2
One thing I ask and I would seek
To see Your beauty
To find You in the place
Your glory dwells
(Repeat)
Bridge 1
My heart and flesh cry out
For You the living God
Your Spirit’s water to my soul
I’ve tasted and I’ve seen
Come once again to me
I will draw near to You
I will draw near to You to You
Bridge 2
Better is one day better is one day
Better is one day than thousands elsewhere
(Repeat)
Word of the day: Psalms 84:8-12
Song of the Day: Better is One Day by Matt Redman

We are at the end of a beautiful Advent season, and starting a New Year in a few days. There is nothing more wonderful than knowing that God’s mercies are new to us every day. He is faithful to us, day by day, month by month, and year by year. When we believe His Word, He gives us light for every step that we take. Here is your dailyeword for the end of this year, and a fresh, vibrant start to the new year

We all have heard that the Ten Commandments are the schoolmaster in the Old Testament to lead us to Jesus in the New Testament. The new commandment that Jesus gave for us to follow is that we love Him with all of our heart, and that we love our neighbors too – Matt 22:38-39. The Bible states that all of the Ten Commandments are wrapped up in those two. I’ve said it before like this, the New Two trump the Big Ten! It is important that we know we are loved, because then we can love others. As believers, our life should revolve around Christ. A Christian is a Christ like one, and Christ should be the center of our existence, our most important Counselor, and the One we depend on in all circumstances. So if you have any question if God loves you, please let this be your definitive answer today. You are loved, completely and totally by a God who stepped out of time into our space so that He could get to know you. Once we know that we are loved completely, then it is natural for us to love others completely. So as important as the ten commandments were in the Old Testament, these two are what you need to live a life that follows Christ example.

The Love of God by Frederick Martin Lehman, Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai

Verse 1
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell
The guilty pair bowed down with care
God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from His sin
Chorus
O love of God how rich and pure
How measureless and strong
It shall forevermore endure
The saints and angels song
Verse 2
When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall
When men who here refuse to pray
On rocks and hills and mountains call
God’s love so sure shall still endure
All measureless and strong
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race
The saints and angels song
Verse 3
Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky
Word of the Day: Matt 22:38-39
Song of the Day: The Love of God by Frederick Martin Lehman, Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai

I’m sure you have some wonderful traditions that you have passed down in your family through the years. We do too! We each get one gift on Christmas Eve, the PJ gift, and usually a family game. After the Christmas Eve service, we have some appetizers and just listen to beautiful music and enjoy being together, and everyone gets in their new PJ’s. It is nothing extravagant, nothing spectacular, just simple family time. On Christmas morning, we make sure the animals are fed, and out come the cinnamon rolls in the shape of a Christmas tree from the oven. The smell of coffee gets Dad out of bed, and everyone is anxiously waiting to open presents on Christmas morning We put on our favorite Christmas CD for Christmas morning, it is BJ Thomas singing, Wake Up! It’s Christmas Morning. And then we open presents, one by one, usually youngest to oldest. It always looks like a mess, because we have a big family! It is nothing extravagant, just simple family time. When I think about the first Christmas, those same words apply. It was simple, and it was family time. The setting was certainly simple, but the reason Jesus came was for family. God wanted His family back. His plan was extravagant, but delivered in a simple way. His Son would come out of space and time from heaven and grow up on earth in simple family that would change history forever. Lo and behold, it involved angels, shepherds, and innkeeper, wise men, and an evil ruler who wanted to thwart the whole plan. But God’s will prevailed, and Jesus grew up to simply change family forever. We are part of the family of God, and our families can experience all the hope, joy, love and peace that this simple family time in a manger, in a stable brought to our world. We BELIEVE!

Bow Down by David Baroni, Tony Sutherland

Verse 1
Bow down before the Lord
Worship Him O worship Him
Bow down before our God
Enter in O enter in
Consuming fire and sweet perfume
His awesome presence fills this room
This is holy ground
So come and bow down
Chorus
Holy, holy
Holy Lord of hosts
Saints and angels give You glory
Now and forevermore

Wake Up! It’s Christmas Morning by B.J. Thomas

Verse 1
In my mind, there is bread on the table
Wood on the fire
In my mind, we are gathered together
To celebrate our heart’s desire
I close my eyes, I see a prince on a camel
A shepherd boy running fast
Both headed in the same direction
Towards a baby in the grass

And I see as generations pass
The miracle gets harder to behold
In a dream I’m face to face with my Lord
This is what I’m told

Chorus
Wake up it’s Christmas morning
Wake up there’s work to be done
Gather ’round you band of angels
Gather ’round the permanent One
Wake up it’s Christmas morning
Wake up it’s Christmas morning
Come and behold the broken hearted
It’s for their sake
He has come

Verse 2
In my mind I see a revolution
Fought for those in need
Led by a Man with a great ambition
For hungry hearts to feed
And this leader
He is gentle and kind
He carries no weapons at all
Just the life that was given to the lost and forgotten
That I might heed His call

Emanuel behold Him (7X)

Verse 3
Oh, in my mind I see a worried father
Keeping warm, wrapping tight
In my mind I see a loving mother
Cradle Him through the night
And in comes a shepherd boy
Arriving at his destination proud
Well I wonder if he knew
What that Child was gonna do
When the angels were talking about

Word of the Day: Luke 2 16-20
Song of the Day: Bow Down by David Baroni, Tony Sutherland or
O Come All Ye Faithful (chorus) by C. Frederick Oakeley, John Francis Wade or
Wake Up! It’s Christmas Morning by B.J. Thomas

So much has been written about the power of praise. We know from Bible examples that God will put a new song in your heart. He sings over us, so there are songs all around us. It really is amazing to think about. So, how is your praise life? Are you taking time to praise and worship God everyday. If we want to rise above the circumstances of life, we will need a song in our heart. The cursed earth can suck life out of you, you renew your strength in His presence….reading His Word, singing His praises, or just breathing in the Life of God. To stay full, we get to take every opportunity we have to spend time with God. Each day we don’t, we are telling God that we can do life without Him. Yikes!!! I want to rely on Him more today than yesterday, so instead of less time with Him, I want more. Often it seems like the times that we need more time with Him is when we have less time in the natural because of raising children, or job schedules, running kids around, or whatever keeps us busy. Those are the times to get creative. Take a praise and worship cd with you, or listen to great Christian music on the radio, maybe KAGF 105.5! Have a teaching CD in the car, or even the Bible on CD. Turn off the TV at home, and enjoy the silence, or listen to some uplifting music. Be creative and make the most of every opportunity to get refilled. It is the only way we can rise above circumstances of life….stay filled up with the power of God. Let His song, bring hope to your life.

Every once in a while, maybe daily, it is good to recall and even rehearse what God says about you. The Bible tells us to fan the flame, and to stir ourselves up in the things of God. As we close out this week, we are going to do just that. I want you to say out loud, that you are growing from glory to glory. I want you to put your mind on those things that God says about you. Then I want you to tell someone else the same thing! Here are some great words to say:
I am who my Father God says I am in His Word
I can have what the Word says I can have.
I can do all that God’s Word says I can do.
I am blessed coming in and blessed going out.
I am above and not beneath
I am an overcomer
I am more than a conqueror.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
I am well equipped to minister to others
I have the Spirit of God on the inside of me
I have His power, His strength, and His ability
I am God’s ambassador to my world
I am the person God made me to be
I operate in the gifts God has given me
I am a willing vessel for God to use.
I am a new creation in Christ Jesus
And I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!
I hope hearing those words encouraged you on the inside. Now it is up to you to believe them, think or meditate on them, and make them a part of your life. You are growing from glory to glory, and you are becoming more Christ-like daily! Why not encourage someone else today!

Thankful (A poem of Thanksgiving)

Thankful to God
For all He has done
Thankful for blessings
And for victories won

Thankful for loved ones
Both far and near
Being perfectly loved
Casts out any fear

Thankful for friends
That give value to life
They give you their ear
and offer godly advise

Thankful for church
A place to grow strong
Great Word and great worship
Where you know you belong

Thankful for children
As we watch them grow
Teach all kinds of lessons
We’d never have known

Thankful for things
That we need day to day
Great food to eat
And a warm place to stay

Thankful for Life
God’s life we’ve received
That gives health, life and wholeness
With each breath we breathe

Most thankful for Jesus
For conquering the grave
For the Word made flesh
So that we could be saved

Thankful for reminders
That all these rewards
Are a small taste of heaven
And are gifts from the Lord

Each one of the phrases in this poem addresses a different area of life, loved ones, friends, church, children, daily needs, the Life of God, for Jesus, and daily reminders of His faithfulness. I am so thankful for my life. In all it’s beautiful imperfections, my life feels so blessed. I hope that today, as you sit around the Thanksgiving table, that you remember God’s faithfulness with a heart filled with gratitude. Encouraging You (to be thankful always!)

Bless the Lord, oh my soul and forget not all His benefits it says in Psalms 103:2. The Message Bible says it this way:
Oh my soul, bless God
From head to toe, I’ll bless His holy name
O my soul, bless God
Don’t forget a single blessing.
He forgives your sins – every one
He heals your diseases – every one
He redeems you from hell – saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy – a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness – beauty eternal
He renews your youth – you’re always young in his presence
God makes everything come out right, he puts victims back on their feet.
What a great writing! I love to read the Message Bible, it gives such a great perspective on verses that we might just pass over in our reading. Soul…..bless the Lord! We can tell ourselves to bless God, and then not to forget a single blessing. I know that there have been many blessing I’ve received from God that I have forgotten, and probably never even thanked God for.

This week my desire for you is to be a person who remembers God’s faithfulness. There is great power in remembrance. In the Old Testament, God established days for feasts just to remember different times in the Israelites lives. As New Testament believers, we are called to do that every day! My prayer is that as you remember what God has done for you in the past, all His wonderful benefits toward you, that you will be strengthened and encouraged. What He has done before, He will do again. Be encouraged today!

God has brought you this far, He won’t fail you now. Sometimes when you are in the midst of junk, it is hard to think about victory. It reminds me of an old song that had words like this:
He didn’t bring us this far, to leave us
He didn’t teach us to swim, to let us drown
He didn’t build His home in us, to move away
He didn’t lift us up, to let us down.
Think about that! He is at work in you, depend on and trust in Him. We know Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Let’s give Him some room to work in our lives.
Ps 77:11-12 says for us to remember the miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works, Oh God. How about this old song
When I think about the Lord
How he saved me, how he raised me
How he picked me up, turned me around
How he placed my feet on solid ground
Makes me want to shout hallelujah,
Thank you Jesus, Lord you’re worthy
Of all the glory, honor, and praise
Makes me want to shout!
God has brought you this far, He won’t leave you. Think about, remember, meditate on His goodness in your life. You’ll be encouraged from the inside out! Start the fire on the inside and your life will change dramatically. God has done great things for you.

Thanksgiving is almost here…..Yay! It is such a fun holiday, because there aren’t all the big pressures attached with it that there are with other holidays. You don’t have to buy any presents, find the right costume, see exciting fireworks or do anything extraordinary. It is all about 2 things. Most of all it is about being thankful. Secondly it is all about food! It is a perfect day to just enjoy every flavor of delicious food that is set before you. I did mention thankfulness first…..and that is what it really should be all about. What are you thankful for? Why not go around the table on Thanksgiving Day and have each person share one thing they are thankful for before you thank God for the food. Maybe you could think of a sentence that starts with each letter in the word THANKFUL, and express your thoughts with your pencil and share it with your family, or email it to me. Or how about this…..tell the people around you, your family first, then those you work worth, and those you worship with, who give you love, who do whatever for you….tell them that you are thankful for them. Then make sure you thank God for all He has done for you. He loves you dearly and has given you all we need for life and godly living…..that is something to be thankful for! Live a thankful life, each day of your life!