Thursday, December 13, 2007
Peggy's Testimony
The "W" in Christmas
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas. My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas
Love." The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence....humbled by His love.
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas. My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas
Love." The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence....humbled by His love.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Give Us Our Daily Bread
Real Life Testimony: When I am invited to go to parties I really do not know what to expect or what is expected of me. I try to ask as many questions ahead of time as I dare, (people do weary of my questions.) So I went to a party yesterday and I felt oh so grateful for the gift of faith. Once I could not enjoy going to a party if I didn't feel sure that I would know to bring the right gift or do the right things. After the food and the group sharing time we began to visit with our neighbor standing or sitting close to us. I was able to share with a woman how at one time in my life I had thought doing all the right things would bring me closer to Jesus. When I found out it didn't , I decided to start over. Now I am closer to Him and enjoy life so much more.
A few years back my pastor (Calvary Chapel) was teaching through the book of 2 Kings. When he was describing how the people of Isreal actually thought they were pleasing God by worshiping a golden calf it so resonated in my heart. Over and over I had found myself reverting back to a formula type of relationship with God. I wanted to quit it. I started asking God to help me quit. My human nature wants to just know the rules , follow them and then rest easy. But my spirit wants to know of His love . Letting Him love me no matter what I find myself doing seems to be the key. Just a while ago I received a letter from the IRS saying I owed money. I was unhappy until I told my heavenly Father, I don't like this news and I don't like it that I don't like this news. Telling Him I don't like me but realizing He still loved me regardless removed my unhappiness and filled me once more with joy.
A few years back my pastor (Calvary Chapel) was teaching through the book of 2 Kings. When he was describing how the people of Isreal actually thought they were pleasing God by worshiping a golden calf it so resonated in my heart. Over and over I had found myself reverting back to a formula type of relationship with God. I wanted to quit it. I started asking God to help me quit. My human nature wants to just know the rules , follow them and then rest easy. But my spirit wants to know of His love . Letting Him love me no matter what I find myself doing seems to be the key. Just a while ago I received a letter from the IRS saying I owed money. I was unhappy until I told my heavenly Father, I don't like this news and I don't like it that I don't like this news. Telling Him I don't like me but realizing He still loved me regardless removed my unhappiness and filled me once more with joy.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Go Forth
Real Life Testimony : There are things ( like filling out paper work for insurance ) that I just have a hard time doing. During these years of walking with my Lord, I have discovered some of the reasons why it is hard for me. However, it still has not changed the fact that I really struggle with making phone calls and anything of that nature.
I would try and tell myself on this day you will fill out the insurance form and if you have a problem answering the questions you will call.
Finally I asked for prayer from the Christian community. I just said simply ,"I have trouble filling out paper work, please pray for me." One person suggested that I actually go to the office of the insurance company so I could ask for help filling out the form . Later I realized what a help that little suggestion was. Did you catch it ? I would not have to call and ask a question.
Still I had to go there. Finding the time and the courage all at once.
As I was working Wednesday and thinking of my new plan I kept thinking , it is to bad you have to work Friday. Friday would be a good day to go and do this. What a strange thought to go on in my mind. However, it was there. What a relief to hear that my employer would actually love for me to come Monday and not Friday this week !
Once again, courage and time. Time was here now courage.
I always pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me where I am in His Holy Word. That is to say, what kind of Bible Story best fits my life today.
Friday morning I was reviewing the story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. The enemy was being held at bay by a pillar of fire but who knew just how long that pillar fire was going to last. Just as Moses knew , I also knew, I needed to get out of there. But how ?
Moses asked the same question and I guess it didn't really upset the whole world system or anything.
Ex 14:15 & 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.
Well, the people in the insurance office were not polite about helping me.
Nor were they willing to help me by telling me things that would save me time and trouble. But I finally made it to the end of filling out all the questions and I even thought to ask them if there was one other bit of information they might require. "Yes," was the answer, and I said, " I thought you might need it, here I have it in my purse."
To be quite honest with you my journey yesterday was more like the pillar of fire coming and keeping my enemies at bay while I and the Lord confer about crossing the Red Sea. However, I have confidence in my heart that at just the right time it will occur to me what act of faith might be required , such as holding a rod over the Red Sea.
And I will go forth, oh yes, I will go forth !
I would try and tell myself on this day you will fill out the insurance form and if you have a problem answering the questions you will call.
Finally I asked for prayer from the Christian community. I just said simply ,"I have trouble filling out paper work, please pray for me." One person suggested that I actually go to the office of the insurance company so I could ask for help filling out the form . Later I realized what a help that little suggestion was. Did you catch it ? I would not have to call and ask a question.
Still I had to go there. Finding the time and the courage all at once.
As I was working Wednesday and thinking of my new plan I kept thinking , it is to bad you have to work Friday. Friday would be a good day to go and do this. What a strange thought to go on in my mind. However, it was there. What a relief to hear that my employer would actually love for me to come Monday and not Friday this week !
Once again, courage and time. Time was here now courage.
I always pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me where I am in His Holy Word. That is to say, what kind of Bible Story best fits my life today.
Friday morning I was reviewing the story of Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. The enemy was being held at bay by a pillar of fire but who knew just how long that pillar fire was going to last. Just as Moses knew , I also knew, I needed to get out of there. But how ?
Moses asked the same question and I guess it didn't really upset the whole world system or anything.
Ex 14:15 & 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry [ground] through the midst of the sea.
Well, the people in the insurance office were not polite about helping me.
Nor were they willing to help me by telling me things that would save me time and trouble. But I finally made it to the end of filling out all the questions and I even thought to ask them if there was one other bit of information they might require. "Yes," was the answer, and I said, " I thought you might need it, here I have it in my purse."
To be quite honest with you my journey yesterday was more like the pillar of fire coming and keeping my enemies at bay while I and the Lord confer about crossing the Red Sea. However, I have confidence in my heart that at just the right time it will occur to me what act of faith might be required , such as holding a rod over the Red Sea.
And I will go forth, oh yes, I will go forth !
Friday, December 07, 2007
Ask and You Shall Receive
Have Your Door Open
Next in my series of real life testimonies : Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
My daughter and I watch to much TV. Just like my attempts to eat healthy all the time, I am also aware that what I feed my mind has a direct connection to my spiritual health.
Rather than take TV completely out the house my daughter and I have discussed the need for balance. One of the ways to achieve this balance , we decided to see each program we watched, as an ice breaker into a conversation. Meaning that if either of us are prompted by the story to talk, we push the pause button and we begin by saying something like ,"You know that made me think of something I'd like to talk about."
Now I've learned that this is not as well received by her if this is a DVD or VHS we are watching for the first time but in our home we have volumes of re-runs .
I asked God to help my daughter to become less dependent on using the TV for an escape of life.
Last night in an episode of Christy she stopped it and said this particular scene made her feel uncomfortable. I suggested that the absence of a parent can sometimes cause a child to feel abandoned and if they do not know how to process their feelings they may become bitter or hard.
My daughter recalled a time when I had left her with a babysitter who was very uncaring. She remembered when I left, she had cried and the sitter had just looked at her as though she was waiting for it to get over. Then she stuck her in front of the TV. That was all she ever did , was sit her in front of the TV.
Then Isa 61:1 came to my mind and I suggested to her that perhaps this memory had come at this time because Jesus now wanted to bind up her broken heart and heal that feeling of abandonment she had felt so many years ago. We prayed together acknowledging that she was ready to receive healing for this wound inflicted so many years ago.
Ask believing you will receive ! How marvelous Our Lord is to come to meet our every need.
2 Corth 1: 3-4 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Next in my series of real life testimonies : Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound;
My daughter and I watch to much TV. Just like my attempts to eat healthy all the time, I am also aware that what I feed my mind has a direct connection to my spiritual health.
Rather than take TV completely out the house my daughter and I have discussed the need for balance. One of the ways to achieve this balance , we decided to see each program we watched, as an ice breaker into a conversation. Meaning that if either of us are prompted by the story to talk, we push the pause button and we begin by saying something like ,"You know that made me think of something I'd like to talk about."
Now I've learned that this is not as well received by her if this is a DVD or VHS we are watching for the first time but in our home we have volumes of re-runs .
I asked God to help my daughter to become less dependent on using the TV for an escape of life.
Last night in an episode of Christy she stopped it and said this particular scene made her feel uncomfortable. I suggested that the absence of a parent can sometimes cause a child to feel abandoned and if they do not know how to process their feelings they may become bitter or hard.
My daughter recalled a time when I had left her with a babysitter who was very uncaring. She remembered when I left, she had cried and the sitter had just looked at her as though she was waiting for it to get over. Then she stuck her in front of the TV. That was all she ever did , was sit her in front of the TV.
Then Isa 61:1 came to my mind and I suggested to her that perhaps this memory had come at this time because Jesus now wanted to bind up her broken heart and heal that feeling of abandonment she had felt so many years ago. We prayed together acknowledging that she was ready to receive healing for this wound inflicted so many years ago.
Ask believing you will receive ! How marvelous Our Lord is to come to meet our every need.
2 Corth 1: 3-4 Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Real Life Testimony
Living a testimony has only one requirement, Living. Giving that testimony by word requires so much more. Fortunately all that I need comes from my God .
Because I live, I breathe in and I breathe out. I give and I receive. Should I stop doing one or the other , life would stop.
Recently I found some other bloggers who share their life testimonies . By their willingness to obey God and share their experiences , it has fueled the fire within me to share again. Thank-you Jeff Running To The Promise and Chris Show Them Through Me-Let Me Be A Light So They Can See. Click there names to take a peek.
The Lord is always faithful to supply all our needs. If you need it to do His will , I believe He will supply it, no matter what "it" is.
The allegorical street I have previously blogged about could take on so many meanings. I liked naming it His Purpose because it reminds me , what I am here to do is His Purpose .
To be more specific I want to be able to do His will powered by the Holy Spirit within me. As I recognize my other counterfeit helpers that my flesh has come up with to do His will, I am tempted to try to rid myself of these things myself. However the more I work to put off the old man the harder the old man wants to stay. This putting off must also be powered by the Holy Spirit . When I meditate on God's Holy Word my mind is renewed and the Holy Spirit is unleashed in my life to take over what my flesh would do. That way , it is not I that managed to get that old man off but Christ within me , and Him crucified.
The old street I referred to in my blogs has to do with addiction. I do not have many uplifting conversations about addiction. Most at best are glad for the grace to just better their addictions to something less harmful to themselves or others. There are so many who need that message right there. Receiving grace is the answer ! Talking about grace is being able to know about grace . Being able to receive grace requires knowing about it and this is why so much time is spent talking about it.
To actually start walking in grace one must receive and then give grace.
Now this is not as easy as it sounds.
First you have to have a repentant . Someone who actually wants to receive grace . However hard as it is, I must not give up looking for repentants of grace. Just lately I have learned to pray grace on people. This way their spirits are receiving and their flesh is not there to fight it off, I hope. Anyway it seems to have opened up the give and receive cycle I've needed to go on further in my walk of grace.
This is how I came upon this idea. I Corinthians chapter one begins with Paul's word of testimony. This is how he lived !
I quote him from verses 3 & 4 . Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.
Because I live, I breathe in and I breathe out. I give and I receive. Should I stop doing one or the other , life would stop.
Recently I found some other bloggers who share their life testimonies . By their willingness to obey God and share their experiences , it has fueled the fire within me to share again. Thank-you Jeff Running To The Promise and Chris Show Them Through Me-Let Me Be A Light So They Can See. Click there names to take a peek.
The Lord is always faithful to supply all our needs. If you need it to do His will , I believe He will supply it, no matter what "it" is.
The allegorical street I have previously blogged about could take on so many meanings. I liked naming it His Purpose because it reminds me , what I am here to do is His Purpose .
To be more specific I want to be able to do His will powered by the Holy Spirit within me. As I recognize my other counterfeit helpers that my flesh has come up with to do His will, I am tempted to try to rid myself of these things myself. However the more I work to put off the old man the harder the old man wants to stay. This putting off must also be powered by the Holy Spirit . When I meditate on God's Holy Word my mind is renewed and the Holy Spirit is unleashed in my life to take over what my flesh would do. That way , it is not I that managed to get that old man off but Christ within me , and Him crucified.
The old street I referred to in my blogs has to do with addiction. I do not have many uplifting conversations about addiction. Most at best are glad for the grace to just better their addictions to something less harmful to themselves or others. There are so many who need that message right there. Receiving grace is the answer ! Talking about grace is being able to know about grace . Being able to receive grace requires knowing about it and this is why so much time is spent talking about it.
To actually start walking in grace one must receive and then give grace.
Now this is not as easy as it sounds.
First you have to have a repentant . Someone who actually wants to receive grace . However hard as it is, I must not give up looking for repentants of grace. Just lately I have learned to pray grace on people. This way their spirits are receiving and their flesh is not there to fight it off, I hope. Anyway it seems to have opened up the give and receive cycle I've needed to go on further in my walk of grace.
This is how I came upon this idea. I Corinthians chapter one begins with Paul's word of testimony. This is how he lived !
I quote him from verses 3 & 4 . Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.
