Trim the Tree With the Word of God

Now that our Christmas tree is up we have begun decorating its boughs. Among the decorations are the old ornaments of my childhood. Then there are the school crafts of our grown children.  Along with those somewhat tattered memories are the mementos of of vacations and trips.  Many years of ornament collecting from the 50 ‘s to now. Each one is a collectible and I try to add one new ornament each year. Our kids and grandkids look forward to our tree holding precious keepsakes every year. You could say it’s a memory tree.

What are you decorating your tree with this year?

If we were to decorate our lives like we do our Christmas trees, with memories of the past, how would our trees look? Would the boughs hold sweet reminders of wonderful times? These memories add to our lives – they enhance the view of our past and help us enjoy our present as well as encourage us to look forward to our futures.

Or would the limbs showcase our disappointments, our futility, our rejections, mistakes, and more. Would we put the best ornaments forward or would we try to display every hurt, humiliation and heartache for the world to see?

While the ornaments on Christmas trees across the country remind folks of precious memories, we must be careful not to decorate our memories with those things that do nothing for Kingdom living. We cannot relive our past mistakes nor hold onto our future fears.  It’s not going to do anyone any good, especially us, if we bring up old mementos of bad days we wish had never happened and relive each and every one over and over every year.

We must choose carefully those things we choose to adorn our lives with. The beauty of God’s peace should be our shining star. No one has such wonderful peace as those who have given their lives, with the entire load of guilt, pain, remorse, regrets and failures, to the Lord. The Light of salvation, rich and full and free, should shine brightly among every single bough. No need to go cheap on this light for the more you share it among the limbs, the more it will shine out for others to see.  Pick out the best to put on the front – joy, faith, contentment, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness and more. These are beautifully painted and color our hearts and lives with inner radiance.  While the sorrowful things of life tend to weigh life down, those good and gracious and precious memories tend to lift up the heart and make merry.

As you prepare to decorate your tree, take a moment to review your life. Now is as good a time as any to look over each memory to see if it’s worth carrying to the tree. Why don’t you just box up those things that might bring you to despair or weigh you down? Keep them in the box, don’t bring them out again – those ornaments only bring more pain and more heaviness.  In fact, why don’t you just hand that box full of things you cannot handle on your own and give them to the One Who can dispose of them correctly? He will take your hurts, your pain, your regrets and your failures, along with future fears and discontentment and remove them as far as the east is from the west. You’ll never have to deal with them again when they’re given to Him. And if they try to show back up in the future you can refuse ownership of them, reminding yourself that God has handled all your broken, disfigured and torn memories.

Oh beloved, isn’t it time to decorate the tree fresh and new? Bring out the best that God has to offer – priceless ornaments of life that were purchased for you freely and without conditions!  His adornment of His peace will be all you will feel in your heart and see in your mind as you hand your entire collection of life to the One Who came to release you from it all. You won’t be empty handed, for He will fill your life with all good things as you portray His Truth about you.

God loves you and He’s for you and those are trimmings that never grow old no matter how many times you decorate your heart and mind with them.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:162 I rejoice in Your word like one who discovers a great treasure.

Philippians 4:8 …Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Colossians 3:10 …and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

A Cure for Heart Ailments is Available!

One of our friends recently broke his ankle. While being x-rayed, his wife, working in the field of heart technology, noticed some plaque in the veins of his foot.  This led to him having an arteriogram to make sure his heart had no significant blockage. Had he not had a broken foot, they would not have found the plaque, which could have led to much more serious problems down the road. Upon testing, it was found that he had no significant problems that required stints or open heart surgery. Another of our friends arrived home from the hospital yesterday, after having bypass surgery because they did find significant problems. Either of these friends could have had real problems had they not been checked out. On the outside you could not tell that either of them had any problems at all, but inside, where you cannot see without special equipment, there were some problems.   

Everyone has heart problems of some kind. We’ve either been hurt, rejected, discarded or misunderstood. Some folks hold those problems deep in their heart for years. On the outside it all seems fine, but a circumstance or situation could cause the problem to flare up.  Sometimes it seems like the same hurts come up over and over again, so that the problem becomes very hurtful. Without the proper equipment and the right person taking care of it, hurt and rejection can cause much damage.

But the Lord is our Great Physician. He sees inside the heart, where no one else can see. Many times we don’t even know there’s a hurt or pain inside, but God does. His desire is that we be healed of those pains and problems. He never intends that we walk around with the rejection and depression of heart issues.  Unlike true heart patients, who sometimes have damage beyond repair, with the Lord no issue of the heart is beyond His healing touch.  He will heal us of all the pain and agony, if we let Him in completely.

I know so many of you are hurting this morning. You woke up with the same pain you went to bed with last night. You’ve tried to forgive, wash it out of your mind, replace it with other things and more.  You’ve avoided certain people, situations and things. Still the agony of Unforgiveness, rejection, fear, sorrow or accusations touches your heart daily.  You want to crawl into a hole and leave the world alone, but that won’t solve the problems of the heart either. Unless you let the Lord in to examine the depths of the problem and give those problems to Him you are destined to continue to live less than full capacity in the Lord.

Oh beloved, make an appointment with your Heart Healer this morning. Right now He is available, His calendar is free.  He has been wooing you to come to Him and waiting for you with a complete healing of the heart! This touch from God is freely given and permanently healed. Won’t you look into His Word and let Him touch your heart and give you the freedom you so greatly want and need? With God’s touch you will be able to run through the trials of life and stay strong and vibrant. He is your Healer and He says to you this morning, I AM the Lord that heals you. I AM the One who has all the answers. I AM your answer and your strength and your joy. If you will let Me, I will restore the hurts and cause you great joy. If you will sit with Me and take My medication, the Word of God, I will do more than you can ever imagine. I love you so much that I gave my Son on the cross to heal you completely. I am for you, so that your heart issues can be relieved as you live in the Light of My Word!

Take it all to Jesus! He will answer you, He will heal you and He will give you new strength and purpose to live for Him!

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Psalm 62:8 O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

Psalm 107:20 He sent out His word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

Need a Good Dose of Gratefulness?

I’ve been blogging for years and now I find myself branching out onto other social sites just a little. Yesterday by a simple twist of fate while looking at blogs, I found that one of an old friend’s daughters had passed away in December. She was young, maybe 40. I also found that she used to blog and be on another social site as well. I found her blog, which is still up. It was profound. It seems that she had suffered from fibromyalgia and other illnesses they could not diagnose. She had been a traveler and enjoyer of life – going all over the world using her gifts and talents. But she had become totally house bound because of illness – unable to work, unable to enjoy life or build relationships.




Her last blogs were pleas of sorts. Pleas to God really – for distant family to be closer, for pain to go away, for Dr.’s to be more sympathetic and comforting, for meds to work and more. She was a talented, poetic and artistic person, even in the last days of her life.



We who are here on earth really take things for granted. Sunrises and sunsets. Meals and desserts. Driving cars and riding motorcycles. Wind in our hair. Mosquito bites and cheesecake bites. We have everything. Don’t we. Our poor is another country’s rich. Today we feel wonderful and we just expect it. Our marriage is good and we just expect it. Our kids love us and we just expect it. We grow used to good and only until something is gone do we find that it was magnificent.



How is it with you today? Are you living with the pain? Perhaps it’s physical, but maybe it’s emotional. Yesterday was wonderful but today all the things you took for granted seem a distant shadow. Maybe you’re living the good life and how could that possibly ever go away? Perhaps it’s all just too perfect and you’re so busy enjoying perfection that you forget the One Who gives and blesses your life. After all, it’s expected isn’t it?



It could be that someone stepped on your toes, acted without sensitivity or just plain lost it with you. You’re the recipient of another’s rage or anger. You can’t do anything about it, you can’t make it right, you can’t see through to the other side of the problem.



Oh beloved I encourage you today to live the good life of gratefulness! Along with gratefulness I appeal to you to embrace humility for today is a gift and anything good in it is a gift from the Lord. My prayer for you is that you will embrace God’s heart of forgiveness and mercy and gentleness with all you love and with all you hold dear. Everyone is worth forgiving simply because we were forgiven. I pray also that you will be forgiven by those who have been holding anything against you. I am asking God to remind you every day that this life may have its ups and downs, but Heaven is real and it will be oh so very wonderful! I pray most of all that you will know how incredibly loved and adored you are by Father God and that you will feel His embrace during the sorrows as well as the joys of this life. He loves you, beloved and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.



Colossians 3:12-13 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.



Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.



Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.



Matthew 5:7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.



Psalm 63:3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!

Discouraged? Saturate Your Life with the Word

While I love to have my teeth cleaned and feel the smooth polished surfaces, I do not like more invasive effects.  But it was time to have some things taken care of. So I went to a wonderful local Christian dentist who we’ve known for quite a few years. He’s kind, generous and fun to be around! Nevertheless, needles and all that aren’t my favorite. The doc numbed my mouth and left me to get completely ready. I even had a color tv and remote control at my disposal.  After a few minutes, he came in with his assistant, another friend, and began to work. He had told me if I felt anything to speak up.  In fact I did feel something and he quickly saturated my mouth with more medication.  Before long the procedure was over and I could get out of the chair and go home. I was thankful once again for relief. I had not realized how much it was hurting until it was fixed.  I had evidently been dealing with it on an ongoing basis. I gave thanks to the Lord again for the relief.

Oh beloved, is there something giving you agony? Have you held it in so long that you have forgotten what genuine relief is like? Perhaps you have thought it was normal to be in pain, have misery or deal with the ache of a broken heart.

Run to the Lord this morning and let Him saturate you with His Word! It permeates every area of your life – from your mind to your body to your spirit – until all you feel is the joy of His presence! Let Him show you all the promises that are meant to cure broken hearts or broken spirits! He loves you extravagantly! He watches over you continually! Truly He is the Great Physician Who will touch you and make you whole again!

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 107:20 He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. (AMP)

Psalm 42:5,6 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42:8 But each day the Lord pours His unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing His songs, praying to God who gives me life.

Psalm 103:5 Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!  AMP

In the Dark? God Wants to Light Your Way!

I woke up in the night to find that the electricity is off in our neighborhood. It’s dark out! Not even a street light has been left on. Diona texted me to see if I was awake. She said Blake woke up crying because it was so dark. Pitch black is hard to deal with any time. Fortunately for us, the power has returned just now and we can move on.

I know you may be waking up this morning feeling totally in the dark. You’ve been hit with a power outage and you can’t see when it’s ever going to lighten up. Darkness seems to loom all around you and you grope to find the way. You try to make sense of the situation you’re in but it’s hard to when you’re hurting and reeling in the dark.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord, the Father of Lights! There is no shadow or turning in Him for He is the Light of the World! Yes, hard times can come on us as surprisingly as a power outage, but with the Lord as our light we never have to experience true loss of power! Our power for living is found in Him! He is the source of all answers to life’s dark times and He is the restorer of our power when things go dark. He not only goes with us, He lights the way so that even the darkness is dispelled before us. He says to you this morning Give Me your darkness – those areas of your life that make no sense or that you cannot control – I will make them as bright daytime for you as you lean closer and closer to My Light. I will never leave you in the dark or forsake you as you try to walk through those hard places. I AM trustworthy faithful and true. You are my beloved and I AM your Lord. One day you will see what I already know – that your good and My Glory are the outcome of every situation of life for you are Mine.

Run to His Word and see! All His promises are yours for you are bought with a price and cared for by the Creator of the Universe! Rejoice in Him regardless of the dark and wait in peace until the light returns! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that matters!

I John 1:5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all.

Job 12:22 He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; He brings light to the deepest gloom.

Psalm 18:28 You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.

Psalm 112:4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

Isaiah 49:9 I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ They will be My sheep, grazing in green pastures and on hills that were previously bare.

John 12:46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.