BE PEACE A FORCE TO RECKON WITH

I want to give you a big hug and tell you it is going to be okay!!!
I was thinking what would I want someone to say to me at this time of the year? What would you want someone to say to you? Maybe...it's going to be okay. I love you. I know you are doing the best you can do. You're okay. Maybe just give someone a big hug.
Expectations that are too high for co-workers, friends, family, strangers, store sales people anyone is dangerous at this time of year.
I am talking to myself here. I am praying that God will be my loyal friend, calming presence and all the love I need.
As I write this I have on you tube replay "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
If you want certain words spoken to you. Say those words to others. It's probably what they need to hear too! It's like a boomerang it will come back to you some special way.
My daughter when she was eight years old tugged on my pant leg and said "Mom it's not about the things we do at Christmas it's about JESUS!" Give all of Christmas to Him.
Jesus + you= Christmas

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
Peace a force to be reckoned with.

S IS FOR SPREAD

Mae stole the dime from her cousin's pile of sorted money that he just spilled out of his piggy bank. She could finally get that paper doll she had her eye on in the dime store. Score! She sat that afternoon changing the dolls outfit and really enjoying her collection of dolls. The year was 1930.
Fast forward till about six years ago. Mae was getting ready to write her story of how she found the love of Christ. She was to use the story to "Spread" the good news of Christ's life. Pondering in her heart "What story could she use?" The remembrance of the day she stole Teddy's dime came to her mind. Her talk explained no matter how small the sin, sin is sin. The conviction stirred in her heart. How can she make it right? This many years later would it even matter to Teddy? Does he really need to know? It was on her heart and her desire was to make it right. Mae picked up a piece of stationary and began to write the story to Teddy. She explained about how the day he was counting his money and she stole the dime to buy the paper doll. How she regretted it and wanted to make it right. That over the years she had realized that she has done other things wrong too! Her heart was full of remorse until one day she learned of the love of Jesus and how He came into the world to forgive us all our sins (no matter how big or small) and extend the free gift of eternal life. She put a dime in the letter and asked him to forgive her. 

A couple of years later Teddy's daughter, Deb, contacted Mae to let her know her father had died, that she saw the letter and she believed Teddy made a confession of faith and received the grace of Jesus. She had read the letter and was touched by this random act of kindness. She had questions to ask. Mae had a chance to explain. The two of them struck up a relationship that has grown strong even to this day. Deb found Christ.

You see our random acts of kindness can "Spread" all over in so many ways that we cannot even imagine. Or can you imagine? Think about it? If you help or write someone and someone gets the news of the act and then they are touched and feel driven to touch someone else with the same touch. A flash would occur and SPREAD ALL OVER THE EARTH. 
Then Jesus said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and SPREAD the Message of God’s good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned."

Mary is to have a baby and name Him Jesus for he will save the people from their sins.
Faith. Grace. Love.


Spread. Good News. Purpose for life. Healing power. 
PRAYER:  Father thank You for sending Your son into the world to love and forgive us. Please give me opportunities to spread this good new. Amen.

A IS ASK

Ask. Maybe your wondering if He really exists.
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Luke 11:10 NIV).

A IS FOR APPROACH

A is for Approach
The agent at the counter blurted out "Well I see the reservation for your two friends but Ma'am I don't see your name." What? "I reserved and paid for all three in one reservation" I calmly replied. She kept punching buttons on her computer and again she declared "No, I don't see that." I just felt surprisingly calm. "Please check again."
I kid you not. When this incident popped up it flashed in my mind what I read just this morning.

"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness" (James 3:18 NIV).

I sensed God's peace.I am not always this good. Ask my family.
It was minutes and the agent looked up at me and said "That's weird it just appeared. I see your reservation." I breathed a sigh of relief and we got our seat assignment and went to the gate.

This season you will encounter longer lines at stores, sold out items, people cutting in lines, lack of parking spots at the mall, crowds, more traffic, full restaurants, slow computer, computer orders blanking out or not going through...
God gives us guidelines to live by. Will we be able to restrain ourselves in the moment.  

What will your approach be to deal with these situations? Will you let it all get you emotionally fed up?
More importantly busyness can get you so frazzled? When you get up Christmas morning will you be ready to  approach the baby Jesus?

Make a plan of how you will approach things with the Spirit of Christ.
Laugh give a big "HO, HO, HO" when things get tense!
Think of the trendy slogan "Keep calm and carry on..."
Give love and you will get love back.
As the day approaches then you will be ready for the King of Glory!

M IS FOR MORE

M is for more
As Christmas approaches do you find yourself making a list of what you want? I use to tell my kids don't ask for anything when we get in the store..., Christmas is coming and you will be getting all sorts of stuff. Inevitably one of the four would ask for something. I would say "You got the gimmees!" Giving and receiving is part of Christmas. At this time of the year do you catch yourself saying "I need help"! Help juggling all the responsibilities and preparations. I want to suggest that at the top of your "gimmee list" you put "MORE OF CHRIST." As you grow in your faith you naturally experience more of Him. Each day try and think of how you can experience more of the Messiah. Focus on and define these character attributes.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
C is for cherish
H is for Holy
R is for right
I is for interruption
S is for sustain
T is for total
M is for more

T IS FOR TOTAL

C is for cherish
H is for Holy
R is for right
I is for interruption
S is for sustain
T is for total

Someone called me out of the blue this morning with an encouraging word. She said God put me on her heart. She reminded me that Jesus paid it all. He came to give us "total" access to him by way of the cross.  The scriptures say we have the total package of God to live a life of Godliness. We can tell our mountains of pain and sorrow to move. We have authority to tell the enemy to stop harassing us. By His stripes we are healed...The total package of God is His word, His blood and His name. Freedom!

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained total access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1 NIV).

Prepare by being reminded that we have "total" access to the baby.

Pray what you need to pray. Tell God what is on your heart. Give Him your heart. Receive what is on His heart.

He wants us to be a force of peace to reckon with.

I don’t know about you but I feel determined today to being an instrument of peace for others. When someone is not peaceful give them peace even though they don’t deserve it.

S IS FOR SUSTAIN

As I went to my early morning physical therapy appointment I began to pray that I stop focusing on my pain and the questioning "How will I continue to live like this." Blah, blah, blah... Instead today I began to think of the therapist I was seeing. How was she doing? I will be more intentional to get to know her. As I prayed the whisper came to me. Give her your cell phone number and tell her that if she ever needs prayer or anything to call you. There it was. Purpose! After all she was more than half way through her pregnancy and I can be a on call friend for her. Lately I heard myself referred to as the on call Lainey. It gave me a small glimpse that God is sustaining me through this time in my life. This is a gift. I have a new friend and that's making the process of healing easier.

If we get up and ask God to sustain us through life pain he could switch our thoughts around and give us a new perspective.

This day I looked at what letter I am on in Christmas and found it to be S and my next thought was "Sustain."
How did God sustain Mary and Joseph as the trekked to Jerusalem? Both had the responsibility to be ready for the baby to come. We all have that same responsibility after all this is no ordinary baby.

Stroll through the day praying and being aware of God sustaining you. 

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken" (Psalm 55:22 NIV).

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me" (Psalm 3:5 NIV).

"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). 
http://ejluv2luv.blogspot.com/

I IS FOR INTERRUPTION

I prayed today "God I need my own personal sign from you that you're here with me."
I kid you not!
I was driving on a main street suddenly I was interrupted by a gaggle of geese as I hurried to meet my daughter for lunch... irritated as I didn't want to wait for them to saunter across the street. I took a deep breath. Could this be the sign? Ok...how many twelve geese...1.2.3...12. Of course!

A still small voice...twelve followed me closely...they went back and forth asking questions to...in the end they resolved to know that I (Jesus) existed...just like the geese they were out of place at times...they stood out...they felt awkward like they didn't belong...yet they believed and followed me. Take the time. The interruptions...being present...being in the moment they are all worth it!

I'm going on with my day resolved to keep seeking, keep trusting...Christ will interrupt our lives at any moment to show himself to us. As you prepare for Christmas will you allow for any interruptions from Jesus? Mary was going along with life and suddenly there was an interruption.

“ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26 NIV).

Father thank you for caring enough to give me a sign. 

IT IS 12-13-14

Christmas
C is for cherish
H is for holy
R is for right
Right now is the time to celebrate the birth of our Lord. One of the biggest decisions I made in my life is investigating the truth about Jesus. It was my personal decision to research and find out who He was.  It is morally good or RIGHT to believe in Him. It is personal. In my early twenties I prayed and asked “God do you really exist? Why was I even born? Is there a purpose to life.”  Within in weeks three women came into my life who had such peace about them. I knew something was different about them. One asked me “Do you know the handbook to life?” She directed me to  read that if I seek God like I seek silver and gold then I will know the wisdom and understanding of God (Proverbs 2). I knew what self-help books and experts on TV said about life but I did not know what God said.  I began to realize the Bible (the handbook to life) had answers. The next lady directed me to Jesus, God’s son. I understood more about Christmas and Easter from what she shared from the bible.  The third women gave me a little book called the four spiritual laws. It was filled with scripture that explained that when I do things wrong (sin) that separates me from God. God’s design for life was for me to be in relationship with Jesus. I found out very quickly that all my good works could not get me close to God. Only by Jesus dying on the cross and sacrificing His life for me and all mankind do I have salvation. I did not wait to pray and confess that I had walked my own way. I committed my life to growing and knowing more about Jesus. When I received the free gift of forgiveness and heaven I knew I had peace, joy, love of God with deeper understanding. Amazing! God himself left heaven (glory) to come to earth that Christmas morning. He wanted to identify with His creation. Pause. That blows my mind. It takes faith.

"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20-21 NIV)." 

Joseph then knew it was "right" to embrace Mary as his wife. He knew the baby was going to be Jesus the savior of the world.

This Christmas will you make things “Right” with God?

When Jesus went back to heaven he left the Holy Spirit. When I received Jesus I received the Holy Spirit who never leaves me and helps me to live my life. I am never alone.

Jesus made things RIGHT.

H IS FOR HOLY

The host of my next speaking engagement asked me to send my bio. I realized as I looked at it needed to be updated.  I can't believe this. I will have to rewrite it. I don't want to rewrite it. What do I change it to? Since being in such transition I have nothing to write.
I thought redoing the bio would be dreadful. Rather than dread this I began to see that change could be new places God will send me. Is that so bad? If I look at it as bad then it will be horrible. Fear of the future! Will God take me to a bad path? The answer is definitely no! But it is up to me to define what is bad? I looked up quite a bit of scripture on committing, giving over, trusting, asking God and all the responses to doing this is a better path and eventual God answers. "You have not because you ask not" says the Lord.

 In order to prepare for the Holy Baby Jesus. I need to trust God with the future and remember the gift God gave me is the present. Being in the moment will be my task. How about you? Is there something you have to get a better perspective about in order for you to prepare for Christmas? Is there things you need to give to God so you can see the Holiness of Christmas?
If you take the time today to think of December as a sacred Holy time to find ways to cherish and make Holy. Without Jesus we would have never experienced Love at the highest Holy level. Holy, sacred love of Jesus. Put on Christmas worship songs and think of the Holy Messiah.

C IS FOR CHERISH

I thought I would write out an acrostic using the word CHRISTMAS as a way to write a message to prepare for Christmas.
C-cherish-I love babies. Oh! The moments I get to adore, hold dear and love on them. When I think of Christmas I think of the Christmas carol "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him". I look forward to celebrating Jesus' birthday. I know Jesus came so he can cherish each of us. Can you imagine what it would be like if you entered the barn and got to cherish a moment with the baby Jesus? After a visit like that your love tank would be filled and ready to pour out to others.
I officiate funerals. When I meet with the family I learn all about the deceased. When I leave that meeting as usual I am reminded that leaving a legacy for my loved ones to remember me by is so important. I think of how important family can be. This Christmas season is the perfect time to have traditions that mark your legacy. What do you impress on others during the Christmas season that they will remember about you and cherish?

THANK FULL HEART

When you give your thanksgiving to God whether you feel like it or not HE always gives you back joy. We are not always faithful but He is. If you're too busy to spend time with God then you are too busy.
We can THANK God and our life is FULL! What a lovely thought!

Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

GODINCIDENT

After three tries I finally was off. Upon arriving at the post office I got in line and waited. I was looking down at my "To List" pondering what I should do next. I looked up saw my friend whom I had not seen in years.  You're probably saying "Elaine where is this going." I had been thinking about this friend for days and now here she was in front of me. Many would say "coinky dink"! I think not! Because when I called to her she turned and said "I can't believe it I was thinking of you yesterday." After being energized by our conversation I realized we had to part and that was such sweet sorrow. Once in my car I reflected on my morning when I committed my day to God by praying.
The timing when I ran into my friend was perfect!
Coincident? No, it was a Godincident!

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established" (Proverbs 16:3 KJV).