"Walking in the Dust of the Master"

2011 is lurking in the shadows just waiting for the clock to strike midnight and the New Year make it's grand advent.  As the anticipation builds - my mind races forward and tries to peer into the days ahead...
What if...
How will I...
What will I do...
Will that happen...

Oft times I must confess that I'm thankful we can't see into the future.  The "unknowns" and "what ifs" are hard enough to contemplate, much less actually knowing what lies at the forefront of the coming year.

Gleaning from the truism of the Apostle Paul when he wrote:   

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"  (Philippians 3:13).

My comings and goings, accomplishments and failures, of 2010 have been logged in the archives of days gone by and cannot be rewritten nor altered in any way.  This moment and the hope of tomorrow is what must seize my focus.

Several weeks ago I heard a preacher refer to a comment about "Walking in the Dust of the Master" and was quite intrigued by this pronouncement.  Can you imagine walking so close to the Master that as the dust is flipped from His sandals it would land on the hem of your garment - or that He would turn to tell you something and you were close enough for it to be said in a whisper.  I have pondered this for several days and have decided that I desire this to be my resolve for 2011.  I've learned from experience when following Him afar off... I cease to hear His voice... I lose sight of the direction He is leading me... The fellowship with Him becomes distant or non-existent.  The bottom of my garment may be clean at those times but I can feel the hot breath of the "deceiver" on the back of my neck.

My desire is to follow the Lord more closely and be so near, if our footsteps get out of rhythm I know I will stumble - but He will be near to catch me before I fall or let me lean on Him when I'm weak and can't seem to take another step.  When the "What if's", the "How will I's",  the "What will I do's", and the "Will that happen's" occur - I don't have to worry because He is right there.  He's as close as a whisper, less than an arms length away, the closeness proven by the dust on the front of my attire.  He will not fail me - He'll take the unknowns and use them for His glory.
   

Wishing each of you blessings in the New Year and "dirt on the front of your garments."

"May you be covered by the dust of your Master!"

"PONDERING THE PARADOXES OF CHRISTMAS"

"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."  
(Philippians 2:6-8)

Yesterday, as I sat for a long time just thinking about the events of the last few day... Christmas Eve / Christmas Day / The beautiful snow falling / Going to look at Christmas Lights / Time with family and friends / Missing our daughter and her family who are serving the Lord as Missionaries in Thailand / and The Reason for the Season... I couldn't help but ponder the fact of all the Paradoxes found in the Christmas Story.  


(Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 2:1-35)  

Paradox meaning: statements that seem to contradict each other but when examined together reveal a greater truth.  

Below are just a few that I'd like to share:

• An all powerful God - came in the form of a helpless Child.
• With the magnificence of a King - but was found in the humility of a stable.
• Represented the limitlessness of God - but was confined to the womb of a woman.
• There was no room for Him - in a World that He had created.
• He left His Heavenly Throne - for an earthly manger.
• He traded robes of splendor - for swaddling clothes.
• He was not born to live - but born to die.
• His death - brings us life.  

While even thinking upon these things I was convicted by the Holy Spirit of "paradoxes" in my own life.  

• I who am most forgiven - harbors unforgiveness in my heart toward others.
• I who am a child of the King and whose Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills - grumbles of things that I don't have.
• I who am fearfully and wonderfully made - complains about the way I look and things that I don't like about myself.
• I whose steps are ordered by the Lord - moans about the path that I am on.

The "paradox" that has changed my life the most:

• He who was without sin - died on the cross... So that I, chiefest of sinners - could receive eternal life. 

We can learn so much from the Paradoxes of Christmas:
We should not judge things by appearance, because God hid His greatest gift in a humble package.  We should not judge an end by its beginning, because the babe in the manger will one day return in full glory.  AMEN

The Statler Brothers: Whose Birthday is Christmas.wmv

YES VIRGINIA, THERE IS A "CHRIST CHILD"

On September 21, 1897, Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's "The Sun" Newspaper.  The response of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.  Virginia's letter read:

"DEAR EDITOR:  I am 8 years old.  Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.  Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'  Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

I often wonder as a Christian parent and grandparent... in years past trying to teach my children, and now in the present my grandchildren, that Christmas is "Jesus' Birthday"... if they become confused as Virginia was years ago.  It seems that "Joy to the World - The Lord is Come" has been drowned out by "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."  

Children are taken each year to see Santa to share with him their list of wishes... yet we know that it is our Heavenly Father that is the giver of every good gift.  (Acts 17:25b  "seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and ALL things;")  We lead our children to believe that Santa is "all powerful" because he can deliver all the toys around the world in just one night --- that he "knows all" because he knows if you have been good or bad all year --- and that he "sees all" because he sees you when you are asleep or awake, and can be everywhere at one time delivering toys in a matter of hours.  We must teach them that it is the "Christ Child" who is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent.  Santa brings them joy one night out of the year... Jesus can bring them joy for a lifetime.

In all the rush and excitement of the special days ahead... let us remember that God gave the greatest gift the world has ever known, the gift of His only Son.  

Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.  No Christ Child!  Thank God!  He lives, and He lives forever.  A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, He will continue to make glad the heart of man.

YES VIRGINIA.... THERE IS A CHRIST CHILD AND CHRISTMAS IS HIS BIRTHDAY!

WHITER THAN SNOW

Come now , and let us reason together , saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  (Isaiah 1:18)

Snow Falling:  reminds me of purity.... cleansing.... and beauty.

Growing up in West Virginia, I am a girl accustomed to snow falling (lots of it) and collecting on the trees - adorning them ready for the Christmas Card Companies to take their portrait and distribute it around the world.  Living in the South now for many years "snow" is such a WELCOMED sight!

It is snowing in North Carolina... something that it rarely does at anytime and most assuredly not at this time of the year.  So often in the month of December we are just beginning to pull our long-sleeve shirts from the backs of our closets.  Today as I sat in the recliner with the curtains pulled back, watching the horses in the field across the road and the snow falling - I couldn't help but sing the words:  

 

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;

I want Thee forever to live in my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe --

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
 

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 
 

What joy it is to know that... what ever our past sins and failures... the Lord is awaiting the day that we call upon Him to be our Lord and Savior... and at that very moment He will "wash us" and "make us" WHITER THAN SNOW! 

PLEASE WATCH:  Kathrynne's rendition of "Whiter Than Snow"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZz78GJLUeo 

53 CANDLES

On December 3rd I celebrated my 53rd Birthday.  WOW!  The years just keep piling up:)  For me Birthdays are like "New Years", a time of reflecting over the year just completed, and anticipating the year ahead.  Usually ending each year with some regret and beginning a new year with expectancy and anxiety over what may lie ahead.

Lord, I thank you for giving me another year of life.

I thank you for all the loving expressions of kindness shown to me.

For all the blessings and all my friends

you have given to me during the past year.

For my family both near and far from me 

but not far from my heart.

Thank you for my loving husband.

Lord, I thank you for all the experiences,

the successes and happy memories,

for times of failure which reminded me

of my own weaknesses and of my need for You,

for times of joy when the sun was shining,

for times of sorrow which drove me to my knees and to You.

Forgive me, Lord, for the hours I have wasted;

for the chances I failed to take,

for the opportunities I missed.

Forgive me that I did not use my talents and abilities to the fullest

because I was lazy and wanted things the easy way,

or I did not completely trust in your help and support.

Forgive me for the days I did things that may have been good,

but you had something "far better" for me to accomplish,

for the days I was too busy to take time to spend with you

when "Martha" took over and I forgot the good things that "Mary" knew.

Help me in the days which lie ahead

to make this coming year better than last year

and closer to you, my Lord.

Also help me to remember that you are the "holder"

and "giver" of each of those days.

Amen

Jeremiah 29:11-13  "11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."