Examples

An ode to the late great Janet Lillian Armstrong entitled, “Examples.”

I’m in love with a man named Jesus,

Because a woman named Janet loved me

He loved me first through her care

A root that sprung into my now deep belief

Surely not perfection, but walked in the right direction

She led me to the One who could lead me to perfection

I’m in love with the One called Christ

Because one woman loved Him too

She allowed Him to transform her life

Now I know I will make it through

Surely not perfection, but walked in the right direction

Proverbs everyday give me wisdom and discretion

I can’t stop chasing after my Father

Because my mother desired Him like no one else

She showed me that there is none like Him

And now I want that joy for myself!

Surely not perfection, but walked in the right direction

She showed me that mistakes are just ways to learn a lesson

I’m in love with a man named Jesus

Because a woman named Janet loved me

She taught me sometimes you have to stand by yourself

And trust that in Christ you have been set free!

Surely not perfection, but walked in the right direction

So just stop stressing and just walk into your blessing!

Friday Freedom 12/23/2011

Jesus, Jesus

Oh what a wonderful child

Jesus, Jesus

He's so holy, meek and mild

New life, new hope to all He brings

Listen to the angels sing

Glory, glory, glory, to the newborrn king!!!

Thank You Lord for this miracle. God loves us so much that He sent His Son. He wanted to restore a relationship with us that much. That is how much God loves you. The highest being brought Himself to the lowest point. He doesn’t need a relationship with us, but He wanted one. God loves you and the proof is His Son coming into this world, showing us the way, and ultimately dying on the Cross. He didn’t have to do it, but He did. Glory to the newborn King!

Thursday Thought 12/22/2011

Is this the only time of year you thank God for sending His Son into the world? There is nothing wrong with a designated day to celebrate the Greatest Gift, but we should be thankful all throughout the year. Not just in singing songs, giving gifts, etc., but in the way we live our lives. Does the way you live on a consistent basis say, “Thank You God for sending your Son for me?” 

During the time we recognize Jesus birth we get gifts for others. Sometimes I wonder, “What can I get for Jesus?” The answer is simple; myself. I can be a living sacrifice. Christ gave Himself up totally for us and now He wants the same commitment back from us. During this time in the midst of all the fun take some time to reflect on you and God. Are truly thankful for Jesus? Can God tell?

Wednesday Word 12/21/2011

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

Christmas time always makes us reflect on and remember the precious gift God gave us. His death on the Cross is the ultimate gift, but His entire life is a gift to us as well. Examining the life of Jesus shows us how to live. This passage from Philippians displays a lesson we can glean from Christ’s life. Jesus is the epitome of HUMILITY. Although He is fully God, He had no problem lowering Himself to the likeness of human kind. And because of this the Father has exalted the name of Jesus above all. God may be calling you to be more humble towards a certain person or in a certain matter. Listen to Him. Jesus was rewarded for His humility and you will be as well!

Tuesday Truth 12/20/2011

God uses imperfect people, just like you and I, to accomplish His perfect plans. We don’t have to “have it all together” to let God use us. We just have to trust that He is Almighty and that He knows infinitely better than we do. Just look at the bloodline of Jesus; the only absolutely perfect person to ever live. Jesus’ ancestors included murders, adulterers, prostitutes, and the like. These are some of the individuals God chose to bring His Son into the world.

You may not think too much of yourself, but God knows all the potential that you have. That is why Jesus came; so that you can fulfill all the plans that God has for your life (after you accept Him as Savior). God used the unholy to bring forth the Holy One. Through people’s imperfections the Lord brought forth a miracle. Believe right now that He is doing the same for you. Your own imperfections, stressful situations, confusing things, and so on. He loves you enough to send His Son for you. Believe that He loves you enough to use imperfections, confusion, and pain to bring a miracle in your life to fruition!

Monday Motivation 12/19/2011

No matter what anyone else thinks of you, Christ came to this world just to die for you! You are precious to Him. It doesn’t get any clearer than that. We get sidetracked by all the other “Christmas” things, but what He did for us truly is the greatest gift. Almighty God actually left Heaven and came into this world as a little baby; knowing how we would treat Him and how His life would end. If that is not love, then I don’t know what is.

Jesus humbled Himself just for you. He experienced life just like we do. Not only does He love us, but He can also empathize with our situations and feelings. Christ Jesus cares about you greater than you could even imagine. All that we need can be found in Him; love, comfort, how to live, peace, joy, but most of all Salvation. The highest being brought Himself to the lowest point to do all that for you. You are special in the eyes of God! 

Friday Freedom 12/16/2011

“I thought that I would not survive

I came this close to losing my mind

Sometimes you go through things in life

That makes you say, "Lord why me this time? "

He's so faithful

He keeps making ways

Out of no way

Just when I thought that I could

Take no more

I made it through!” ~ Tye Tribbett

Sometimes that is how the Lord operates. Our faith gets tested for what can seem like a very long time. We wonder is God still there; does He really see what we are going through? We wonder if we will ever come out. But, that’s just how He works. At the lowest point, at the darkest hour He steps in and turns it all around! Your tests right now is just another opportunity to learn how faithful the Lord is. The trial is just another chance to see how He makes ways out of nothing. Trust that whatever it is, in His perfect timing you will be saying, “He’s faithful, I MADE IT THROUGH!”

Thursday Thought 12/15/2011

Do your circumstances affect your attitude towards the Lord? There are some who claim to have great faith in God, but when the road gets rough they question who He is. The enemy can get inside a person’s mind and cause him or her to question God’s love, His character or both. God doesn’t owe us anything! We deserve death. No matter how “good” or “bad” life is at a certain point, it is still better than what we deserve from the Lord. Through anything that happens we still can have a relationship with Him.

How do life’s situations affect your relationship with Jesus? In the end Job realized that everything he went through was simply God fulfilling His plan for Job’s life. Job came out stronger, wiser, and better in the end. What if he had gave up on God in the middle of everything? He would not have been blessed doubly. Think on that. God is always loving. He is always sovereign. The Lord is always holy. Present situations do not change God’s eternal character. Don’t ever think God has become worse; He is just trying to make you better.

Wednesday Word 12/14/2011

"In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly… And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." ~Job 1:25; 42:10

He made it through. It wasn’t easy. There was some fear and immense pain. At one point Job even wished he was dead (chs. 3,10), but he came out victoriously! How? Job never blamed God. He had a deep rooted faith in his Lord. It was so deep those around him thought he was just plain crazy. Even then he stood firm. He knew his God had not forgotten about him.

So many things took place in those forty chapters between the first and last one. Through it all job came out doubly blessed in the end. Why? Because he never let his circumstances affect his actions or his trust in God’s sovereignty. Can the same be said about you? Whatever you are experiencing right now is the just the middle of the story. Hold on to God’s promises. He will supply all of your needs (Phil 4:19). He has made you dead to sin, but alive in Christ (Rom. 6:11). You do have everlasting life through Christ! (John 3:16) You can do all things through Him (Phil 4:13). Hold on to his promises, even if you are holding on by yourself, and come out doubly, triply, outrageously blessed!