Joy//#1

Restore unto me the Joy of THY salvation.

Psalm 51:12

Isaiah 53//thoughts on Christmas

Have you ever really truly paused to think of what Christmas is about?

Most of us would respond automatically. Yes. And we would even have the right answer. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Maybe we’ve thought about it, but have we pondered it?

Do we really take to heart what Christmas is really all about?

We run around like chickens with their heads chopped off trying to find the perfect gift for each family member and friend. Then we take a look at our bank accounts and spazz out because Christmas costs a ton. Or we scramble to try to make a meaningful homemade gift for each one.

All the while we are focused on other stuff. Yes- giving gifts is a good thing. Yes, spending time with family and friends is a good thing. But that’s still not what Christmas is about!

Christmas is about Christ. Christmas is the celebration of JESUS’ birth.

Jesus came to earth so that he could die on the cross and give us the gift of eternal life. That’s a big thought.

He didn’t have to. He didn’t have to save us. He didn’t have to DIE for us.

But he did. He died for us. for you. for me. sinners. sinners who deserve nothing less than going to hell. 

But he died anyway.

He came to earth because he loved us.

//years ago my dad had to memorize Isaiah 53 for a Bible class he was taking. Being very much Daddy’s girl, I was the one who got to coach him. I heard him recite this passage so many times that I almost had it all memorized when I had to do it in high school.

Its an amazing passage. and its beautiful! <3 Its talking about Jesus. Its talking about why Jesus came to earth. Its talking about why Jesus was born. This passage brings new meaning to one of my favorite phrases,

beauty from brokenness.

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

 Isaiah 53:1-9

my love story// guest post

We are so very excited to share a guest post by Sarah Covey today!

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I'd like for you all to meet someone. He is the handsomest man in the whole wide world, and is just PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!! He is one of the richest men alive, because of who his Father is.

The only problem is that I haven't met him either. You see, the reason I know all this about him is: I've met his father. It is said he owns the cattle on a thousand hills. 

This Father was there when I was born, He knew me better than anybody, and He also knew that He had someone very special for me. When I was born, He
said 'one of my sons is perfect for this young lady.'

Then one day about 2 1/2 years ago, I got to personally meet the Father. I was at a Youth Camp. It was right after the evening sermon. You see, He knew that I was a wandering orphan heading down the wrong path. He knew that I was in need of a loving Father, so He asked if He could adopt me into His family. I, having known about Him all my life, accepted his offer. I then wondered why I hadn't joined His family before. I knew that He had been offering it all along, but I wasn't ready to accept His offer; He also knew that. When I was born, He saw that day in the future, when I would finally accept His offer. That day I became siblings with the most wonderful man, on earth at least.

So, well I'm waiting for my new Father to show me who this man is, I'm just staying in my Father's will, and trusting Him. My Father's been preparing me all my life for this man, but trust me, I'm FAR from being ready for him. And my Father knows that. I'm not out looking for this man, I'm staying in my Father's 'castle.' One day He will bring this man into my life, and until then I'll just keep trusting Him.

Now I have a question for you: Do you know my Father, did you know that you are a lost orphan also? Did you know that He is offering to became your father? And if you trust in Him, you'll see His ultimate provisions also. If you aren't one of my Father's children, why don't you just accept His offer? If you would like to know more about becoming one of my Father's children, just ask me or one of the other girls  and we would be glad to explain it to you more. Here's one of the promises my Father gave me before I became one of His children:  "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if
so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

I can tell you a couple of things for sure: 1) He is waiting with arms WIDE open, 2) This is one of the most important decisions you can make in your life, 3) Don't wait, if you just accept my Father's offer, you will have peace and joy like you've never experienced.

 What a blessing to know that my Father has known about me from the very beginning, He's known about my very special man, and He knows that we are
the only ones that will be perfect for one another. I'm glad that I can trust in my Father for my partner, and that I don't have to spend much time wondering:
"is this man right? Is it the right time?" All I have to do is ask my Father.

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My name is Sarah Covey, I grew up in a christian home, and made a profession of faith when I was a little girl.  When I was 13 years old, I went to Northwoods Baptist Camp with a group from our church.  The guest preacher was Bro. Josh Jones from West Virginia. On Wednesday night Bro. Jones preached a powerful message on Hell. The Holy Spirit was convicting me during the invitation, but I put it off. Thursday night, during the invitation, Bro. Jones touched on the topic of Hell again, and the conviction came back.  God was giving me another opportunity.  That night I accepted Jesus as my Saviour.  Currently, I am tutoring and teaching piano lessons.  God has really shown Himself true in my life, especially this past year, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for me in the future.  You can keep up with current "happenings" at my blog: A Daughter of the King. 

your most important decision...

 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; 

prove your own selves. 

Know ye not your own selves, 

how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Corinthians 13:5 

To accept Gods unbelievable gift of eternal life through belief in His only begotten son, Jesus, is the most important decision you will ever make.

It is more important than who you will marry, where you will live, what vocation you will follow.

This decision controls the whole of eternity for you, whether you will spend in in all the wondrous glory of Heaven or whether you will spend it in the horrific horrors of hell.

If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior, let today be your day of salvation!

~ From My Heart to Yours {p.15} by Glorianne K. Gibbs 

Read Brianna's post as well! THE MOST IMPORTANT THING