Encouraging Word

You probably don’t hear it enough, but very often we neglect a very most important truth. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t help anybody else. Moms often will sacrifice for kids and husbands, and neglect t taking care of themselves. We live in me first culture, but sometimes the martyr Martha gets frustrated because they are doing all the work, and have no time for self care (I’m preaching to myself here!) Jesus even said it, there is a time to be still and sit at the Saviors feet. That is more important than making sure everyone gets refreshments. Nothing heals, restores, and re-energizes like the presence of God. It is the place to be. Our best self care, takes place when we are spending time in the Word, when we are worshiping in church, when we are fellowshipping with others, praying for one another and being prayed for. Things can be done in the spiritual realm in a moment that would take years of counseling to cure. Tat is why self awareness is so important. We are God’s sheep and we know His voice. Listen! When He speaks to you to stop, stop immediately. When He speaks- to you to slow down, slow down immediately. When He speaks to you to move, move immediately! Be obedient to God’s voice and learn to recognize it even better the more time you spend in His presence

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If you had to choose power or no power, what would it be? There might be a few of you who should have been born before electricity, who love candles and lanterns, and sleeping under the stars by a fire, but most of us, like a light switch, a thermostat, and an engine on 4 wheels that gets us places quickly. It’s a no brainer for me. I like the power on! Jesus said that he would leave us a power source when He left the earth. He said the Holy Spirit would be our power source. If you don’t plug in to the power source, you get none of the benefits that power supplies. When we are connected to the power source, we get all the benefits of living in the fruit of the Spirit. That is where love, joy, peace, ….etc become evident of the power of the Holy Spirit working inside of us. Our action, our behavior and even our attitudes become different as we stay connected to the power. The closer we are to the branch, the more life we receive. The life source gets all the way out to the end of the branches, and that is where fruit is produced. Fruitful living also becomes a great way for the world to know that we are Christians. Love, joy, peace are evident in our lives, even if our circumstances are less than rosy. Our joy source is based on our circumstances, it is based on our relationship with Jesus. So power up! Keep plugged in. Don’t let your batteries lose their charge. We need more power!

Deep and wide. Life can be shallow and narrow, or deep and wide. When we finish our days, we don’t want to have little impact on the people around us, we want to leave a deep impression on them. We don’t want to leave a light mark on the earth, we want it to be wide. We only walk through life one time and time is our most precious commodity. It can’t be bought or sold, and there is no way to get it back once it is gone. It is so important that we redeem our time like the Bible tells us in Eph 5:16. We have to manage the moments that we have, because they are precious. If our time is limited, it means that we have to be even more diligent with the minutes and hours that we do have. It means finding a way to work smarter and not just harder. We can make time management choices that help us eliminate the non essentials, and add value to the time that we do have to do the things that are most important. It also means making the best use of the time of day when we are most alert and productive. When making your daily schedule, we can’t eliminate the most important things, which aren’t things at all. They are relationships, and people are definitely more important than projects. Live passionately every day, from morning to night, making the most of your time, and valuing your relationships. Live in the moment, valuing each moment. Time is fleeting and precious.

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Have you noticed how much faster each year seems to pass compared to the last? I have a theory on why that happens. For a three year old, one year is 1/3 of their life. For a 30 year old like me, HA HA, I’m 50, one year is 1/50th of my life. So of course, time doesn’t go any faster, but in relation to our length of days on the earth, it is a much smaller percentage. So what did you plan to accomplish by this time in your life. Did you plan to travel to certain places by a certain age? Did you want to patent an invention by the age you are now? Did you want to get a degree, or increase your knowledge in some area by now? I have discovered that at age 50, unless I live to be 103 or 105 like my great aunts did, half of my life is over. I do believe the best is yet to come, but why put things off till tomorrow what you can and probably should do today? Go after your dream. Find a way to accomplish what you have in your heart. Make it an attainable goal, but setting forth a strategy with steps to get you to your desired target. On this roller coaster ride of life, why not enjoy the ride! It doesn’t last forever, so make a plan to get started. Become fully engaged in life now. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

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Blessings to you as we begin a fresh new year. Hi this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. I am offering a challenge to you this month as we begin the first month of the year. Our church staff and many of our body are accepting the challenge to live a life without regrets. Instead of making all kinds of New Year’s resolutions, if we can as believers decide to live a life without regrets, our life will be better, not only this month, but all through this year and our lifetime. Thanks for joining us on this month long journey. Here is your dailyeword.
Tuesday:
Happy New Year! Today begins our month long challenge to live life to the fullest with no regrets, Every person on the earth was born with a purpose. From birth to the day you die, every single day we have the opportunity to live life full. We have God’s thumbprint on our lives, and the destiny he has for us is possible to achieve if we decide to follow God’s plan and live with purpose. Since we all have an eventual expiration date, if we want to live and die with no regrets, it takes making a decision today to push through fear or anything that hold us back from doing and being all that God has planned for us. Because earth is limited, we have to make the most of every moment. Heaven is infinite and goes on forever, but our earth life has an ending. If you knew there was an end to your life very soon, what would you change so that you could finish life strong? One of my friends favorite saying is walk strong. I think we could expand it to walk strong, live strong, and finish strong. You have too much to offer to leave this world without completing what God put you on the earth to accomplish. The power is within you to change your world. Let’s make this month the time you start down that path. Can you say this with me? I commit with God’s strength to live with purpose and passion starting today for the rest of my life.

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Blessings to you as we wrap up this holiday season. Hi this is Dorette Schaal with an encouraging word for your day. Today as we prepare for the New Year, I will be talking about the 12 days of Christmas. During the 12 days from Christmas to Epiphany on Jan 6, much of the church world takes time to reflect on God’s goodness during the past year in preparation for the next. I will actually be using the song 12 days of Christmas which has often been thought to be a playful reminder of spiritual concepts. Hope you enjoy! Here is your daily eword.
Monday
Today we will take a look at the last 3 on the list of the 12 days of Christmas. The “ten ladies dancing” are a reminder of the Ten Commandments listed in the book of Exodus. You may know them by heart, but in case you don’t here they are:
You shall have no other gods before[a] me.
4 “You shall worship no graven image
7 “You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long on the earth.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet.
In the NewTestament, Jesus simplified these 10 Commandments down to these two. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. The two, cover all of the 10! I know you can remember those two!
The “eleven pipers piping” represent the eleven Apostles who remained faithful. Judas was the one who denied Christ and was replaced. But the 11 were the ones who continued to stand next to and for the Lord.
The “twelve lords a leaping” are the twelve basic beliefs in the Apostles Creed. You probably know them as this:
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
5. The third day he rose again from the dead:
6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
7. From there he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit:
9. I believe in the holy Christian church: the communion of saints:
10. The forgiveness of sins:
1l. The resurrection of the body:
12. And the life everlasting.
So as we continue toward the end of the twelve days of Christmas, and toward Epiphany when the church celebrates the arrival of the 3 kings, I hope this fun song reminds you of how wonderful it is to be a Christian, and be part of the family of God. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me……

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The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes. Getting to the end of the list, we can remember the eight beatitudes from Matt 5.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
There are some tremendous blessings available to those who are meek, who are merciful, who are peacemakers, who are poor in spirit and even for those who mourn. God’s kingdom is theirs. How amazing is that. The Luke kingdom of God is within us, when we are born again as it says in Luke 17:21.
Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit listen in Gal 5:22.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
The fruit of the Spirit are attributes of a person who is yielded to the Holy Spirit. They are evidence that a believer really is a new creation. That they have been changed from the inside out, and just like smoke from a chimney signifies that there is a fire in the fireplace, the evidence of fruit of the Spirit in our lives reveals that there really is the fire of the Holy Spirit on the inside!

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The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is pretty astounding to realize that God spoke the world into existence. He said, let there be light. He said and it was. Before anything was made that was made, God knew the power of words. Obviously His Word have enormous power. But our words do too. We know that the power of life and death are in the tongue. We can speak life giving word, or words that wound and damage. If we are smart, we will choose life! Let’s make this New year a time to watch the words of our mouth, and only speak words that edify and encourage. The easiest way to do this is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then we have power to live our Christian life. If the choice was power on or power off, I know what I would choose! Be filled with the Holy Spirit. The seven swans represent the seven motivational gifts listed in Romans 12.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
These seven gifts are God’s thumbprint on our lives. Each person fits into one of these catagories, and when you find your motivational gift, you often will discover where you can best serve in the work force or your career, and how you can best serve in your own church body. Every need is met when every joint supplies! God gives gifts to be used, so use yours this New Year!

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The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament. Many Jews memorize the whole torah, and young jewish children who make the right of passage through their bar or bat mitzvahs are tested thoroughly on their knowledge of the Pentateuch.
The first five books of the Bible are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. For the most part, both Jewish and Christian traditions give credit to Moses for being the author of the Pentateuch. These five books form the theological foundation of the Bible.
“The word pentateuch means “five vessels,” “five containers,” or “five-volumed book.” In Hebrew the Pentateuch is Torah, meaning “the law” or “instruction.” Another name for the Pentateuch is “the five books of Moses.” The Pentateuch gives us history and instruction. It is valuable to read even if it seems long, especially if you are in Numbers!
The 5 books of the Pentateuch introduce Bible readers to God’s divine purposes and plans, and explain creation and how evil entered the world. In the Pentateuch we also see God’s response to sin, his relationship with mankind, and we gain insight into God’s character and nature. All scripture is God breathed and is profitable! Be a lover of the Word, and hide it in your heart!

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Today we are looking at two turtledoves representing the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love. And four calling birds are the four gospels. For the born again believer, living on this side of the cross, we operate in the new covenant, which is the New Testament. If ever we want to know how to live, we look at Jesus. What was concealed in the Old Testament, was revealed in the New! Both the Old and New Testaments make up the complete Bible. Because it is complete, we need no other book to become a Christian or to live the Christian life. They cover it all! Faith, Hope and Love (three French hens) are what remains if we look at I Cor 13. The greatest we know is love, which is what we as Jesus’ followers should be know for. The world will know we are disciples because of the love we have for one another. The four calling birds represent the 4 gospels which are all different accounts of Jesus’ life on the earth. From his birth in a stable to his death on a cross, each gospel reveals who Jesus is. How he lived, how He loved, and how He wants us to live and love. For a new believer, the gospels are a great place to start reading and studying God’s Word. I want to encourage each of you to participate in a daily Bible reading plan every day of the New Year. There are so many options available and youversioh.com makes it especially simple if you like using your phone or your reader to read the Bible. Of course, reading a Bible and flipping the pages still works, and it is good to have Bibles available in various places in your home. Make it easy for you and your family to read the Bible every day. That is day two, three and four!

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