Hello Friend,
          Well, it’s New Year’s Eve.  And time to make those resolutions! Last year my word for 2017 was rest.  Rest in every way.  Physical rest:  I went to a sleep specialist and did a sleep deprivation program to improve the quality and length of my nightly slumber.  For relief from anxiety, I resolved to rest in the Lord.  When matters were out of my control, I immediately surrendered the situation to God.  At the end of this year, I am getting much better at not retrieving the problem back out of God’s reach.  And the rest from stress is amazing.  
           My word for 2018 is fun.  I find it interesting that my word is not joy, but fun keeps reoccurring in my mind.  So, I am determined to schedule some down time every darn day no matter how busy my schedule.  Problem is that I am such a workaholic that I am not so sure what “fun” is going to look like, so I have asked God to show me.  Don’t know where this adventure will lead me, but God answers prayers so I am anticipating an infilling of delight and glee.
          Let’s just affirm together that 2018 is going to be awesome.  Why not go to the Lord in prayer right now and ask God to give you a guiding word for this year?  God knows just what you need.  Be an open vessel and allow God to fill you to the full and overflowing with blessings.
                            Partnering with God in 2018, Linda

May the Lord Of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.  The Lord be with you all.                                II Thessalonians 3:16
Hello Friend,
            Advent is about making the journey to Bethlehem to meet Jesus and deciding to invite him into your heart and home.  To invite him into your celebrations.  To give him a place at your dining table.  Tonight, on this wondrous Christmas Eve, we arrive at our destination and await the birth of the Christ Child.  You and I can nestle down into the calm peace of a silent, holy night. 
            In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus asks us to come to him if we are weary and He will give us rest.   Are you tired from all the preparations?   Me too! Ok, time to stop.  Your Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be award-winning as much as it needs to satisfy the souls of those whom you seek to nourish.  You are sharing communion with your guests in the best sense of the word.  The breaking of bread and the offering of prayers with your dear ones; nothing more sacred.    Serve your guests love with the mashed potatoes.  And acceptance with the gravy.  Forgiveness with the turkey.  And joy with the cranberry sauce.  And offer seconds of each, thirds if they need it.    At your feast, Christ’s love should be shared by all.  And so, dear ones, my prayer is that Jesus will be the honored guest at the head of your table offering to each what he came give:   peace on earth and goodwill to men. 
                                Blessings to you and yours,                                                                                                                                                        Linda

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty.  Even the sparrow finds a home there, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young--at a place near your altar.  Psalm 84:1-3





Hello Dear One,
            How are you this morning?  Tired?   Stressed?  Well, it’s that time of the year.  It’s Advent and time to put up the tree, go shopping for just the right gifts, decorate the front Hello door, bake cookies, and on and on.   Just thinking about all the preparations that must be done along with all the usual daily tasks that still loom large makes me stressed.   Just thinking about my lists brings me anxiety.
            I was wondering if you and I are spending as much time preparing our hearts to receive the Christ child.  Oft times, a nest is used as a symbol of how the “Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:24).  We are to be receivers of the Word as nests are receivers of new life.  A hummingbird’s nest is the smallest among the bird population measuring about one inch across.  At the other extreme, the Dusky Scrubfowl’s nest is more than 34 feet in diameter and stands 15 feet tall.  Whatever the kind of nest or size, they are a sacred dwelling place prepared to receive the gift of life.
            Jesus comes to us in the midst of our everyday lives and asks us to create space for him where he has never been before, or never made to feel welcome, or treated as a priority.  All of us are meant to know the joy of nesting the Christ within our hearts.  Be still.  Be quiet.  Be alert.  Get into the spirit of the Old Testament people and yearn for a Savior.  Open your heart.  Be receptive.  Welcome the one who comes as a babe at Christmas.  Remember that it is in your heart-nest that Jesus longs to dwell.  Have you prepared a place for Him?
Prayer:  Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.  Come in today.  Come into stay.  I’m ready to receive you with Love.  Amen.                                                                                                  

                                                          Preparing my home and heart,
                                                                                                 Linda
 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  Luke 2:7

Hello friend,
          Christmas is coming!  Ho.  Ho.  Ho.  Or, Christmas is coming, “Oh, no!”  What refrain is your heart singing?
          Last week at church I preached on the above scripture focusing on the words no room in the inn.  Let me ask you this morning, “Is Christ the focus of your Christmas?”  Have you made room for Him in your busy schedule?  I know there are presents to buy, cookies to bake, and lights to hang, but is there a priority in all this preparation for the big day to actually make room for Jesus?  Are you talking with Him each day? Too busy buying presents!   Remember: He is the Present and the only Presence you really need.  Are you sharing the greatest gift of all with others?  They need Him more than a new sweater!   How many colored lights do you really need to string across your entrance to welcome Him? Think about this:  He is the Light.  Do you really have room for Jesus in your life?  In your heart?  He is the reason for the season! Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
                           O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there’s room in my heart for thee.                                           Linda

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
                                                                   Hebrews 12:11
Hello Friend,
            When the alarm clock went off this morning, my initial reaction was, “Oh, no!”  I hit the snooze button several times and just procrastinated getting out of bed.  Last night I stayed up too late and did not discipline myself to go to bed at a reasonable time.  Therefore, this morning, I am suffering—and whining.
            Hebrews, chapter 12 tells us that God disciplines his sons (us).  He “disciplines us for our own good, that we may share in his holiness.”  God says that later we will reap a harvest of fruit—the fruit being peace, joy,  love, faithfulness, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and  self-control.  I want all those wonderful qualities in my life; I just don’t like the discipline it requires to get them.  Come on now,  you know you feel the same way.
            God knows that we won’t like his discipline, but listen to His words in verse 12:  “So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and tottering knees.”  God says, “Quit your whining!”  Stand p straight!  Buck up!  God is a demanding coach who requires our lives to be disciplined.  We can react in several ways.  We can whine.  We can be angry and resentful.  Or,  we can accept God’s discipline gracefully as we would from a loving Father.  How has God disciplined you in the past?  Did this discipline lead to peace and joy?  What do you need to discipline—your mouth, your emotions, your diet, your schedule?  You can do it.  So stop whining, set your mind, and affirm, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  No discipline is pleasant, but God promises to reward our efforts.
Affirmation:   I trust myself to make appropriate decisions.
                        Learning self-control,    Linda