Silly Saturday
Month: December 2024
Funny Friday
Silly Saturday
Funny Friday
Messages From A Hope Filled Heartā¦
Day 20
Share the Load
Sometimes, we carry too heavy of a load. Sometimes, we carry too heavy of a load alone.
And itās not Biblical.
Now, I know. We donāt need to be wimpy Christians. I know we need to rely on Christ for all we need. I know we need to be faith filled and encouraging and strong.
Yet, He told us to share the load, too. He told us to be the Body of Christ, each one having a part to play. He also told us when one mourns, we all mourn. When one rejoiced, we all rejoice.
So, donāt carry your load alone.
Share it with someone. Ask for prayer. Ask for help. Ask for a hand to be lended. And let them lift your load.
Donāt steal their blessing when they want to pay. Donāt shut them out when they want to pray. Donāt turn your back when they come to offer comfort and love.
Youāll be surprised as your load is lifted how much more of theirs youāre able to help carry.
Bear one anotherās burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christā¦But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, āI have no need of youā; nor again the head to the feet, āI have no need of you.ā No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessaryā¦And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:12, 20-22, 26
Messages From A Hope Filled Heart
Day 19
Hope is in the season, if youāre willing to see it.
Hope is in the greetings, if youāre willing to hear it.
Hope is in the warmth of home, and fellowship, and love, if youāre willing to receive it.
Yet, Iām often asked, āWhat Ifā¦.?ā
What if the season is hard because of grief, pain, and trauma?
What if the greetings are anger filled, hate consumed, and altogether damaging?
What if the home is broken, dysfunctional, and chaotic?
The āwhat ifsā of life make it difficult to have cheap, cliche , easy to deliver answers.
The āwhat ifsā confuse, complicate, and bring doubt when it just doesnāt fit.
I canāt answer all the what ifs, but I can answer the Who.
I know Who can bring peace that surpasses all understanding and strength to scale the mountain.
I know Who can shut the mouths of lions and bring comfort to the child.
I know Who can speak to the winds to calm and set a fire within the soul to save.
He is the only One who can bring grace to sustain.
He is the only One who can wisdom to abstain.
He is the only One who can bring sight to the blind.
Just try Him today. Say His Name.
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
The Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.Psalm 147:3-6
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.Isaiah 26:3
Messages From A Hope Filled Heartā¦
Day 18
This little ornament has always struck me when I read it each year.
āWith nails, the carpenter fashioned our salvation.ā
Think about it. The Creator of the universe. The Beginning of all things. The King of all we see and beyond, He chose to leave all His glory to come to earth as a babe and be raised here as a carpenterās son.
He chose to become humble, a lowly workmanās son who fashioned wooden creations with hammers and nails by his own hands.
He grew into a man, obedient to His Heavenly Father, even unto death, to save a world that hated Him. He chose to be nailed to a rugged cross, accepting a cruel and violent death to shed His blood, being atonement for all who would believe.
And then, breathing His last, He died. But not without promise. In three days, He arose; later ascending, promising to come again for all those who are His own.
He is real. The promises He gives are true. And it is all unconditional, free to him who believes.
Will you believe in Him this season?
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.
1 John 3:16
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:15-16
Silly Saturday
Messages From a Hope Filled Heartā¦
Day 17
What brings you joy this holiday season?
Is it the gifts piled around the tree?
Is it the distant relatives who come to visit?
Maybe itās the college kids or military spouses, sons, and daughters who return home for a welcome stay. Maybe itās the cozy fireplace with Christmas carols in the background. Or maybe itās the dreams of winter white wonderland coming true on Christmas morn.
For me, I love to have our college aged men home for a few extra days. They may be sleeping late and leaving a trail of items from the front door to their rooms, but I smile and sigh in contentment, knowing āall my little chicks are under one roofā again. They may be grown, but having them close brings the laughter and joy that fills the void when theyāre gone away.
I adore watching the ālittle boyā excitement as they unwrap the presents on Christmas morning. We grab a cup of coffee, search for all the names and distribute well, to watch the smiles and wide-eyed anticipation of many confirmations from the well worn lists that were sent and a few pleasant surprises from under the tree.
I always look forward to the expectancies of Christmas movies, decorated cookies, and holiday baked goods that come this time of year. And I cherish the take-it-slow mode of intentionality we all seem to settle into, knowing the days grow shorter with every passing hour.
All of these wonderful moments bring my joy to overflowing as I bask in the strength and love of our family.
Yet, I do believe my very favorite thing that brings me joy is when we gather on Christmas morning, after all the presents are piled up and the wrapping paper is all tossed, and we read a little story from their childhood reminding us whatās so important about the dayā¦
This is the sweetest little story of Jesusā birth that we began reading way back when they were just little tykes. It has a wonderful surprise in the very last box to tell everyone what God truly wants for Christmas. And every year, even though theyāre grown now, we read and remember Whoās the purpose for the season and what He would like for this beautiful day.
This is it.
This is what brings me such joy in the holidays.
And I hope you find can Him, tooā¦
Then the angel said to them, āDo not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.ā
Luke 2:10-12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, āI am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.ā
John 8:12
Funny Friday
the grizzle grist mill 