Tag: Jesus is the way the truth the life

Christmas

My Favorite Things

meghanewhite

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As a little girl, I would lay on the floor next to our Christmas tree looking up at all the lights and decorations. It was so wonderful and exciting to me, all of it. The stereo console would be playing an Elvis, or Gene Autry Christmas record, creating the perfect dreamy atmosphere.

Years later, and I still love Christmas. I love the decorations, music, silly movies, baking and giving. That’s one of the best parts, giving gifts to loved ones, and sharing my baked goods with neighbors and family. And, I absolutely love going to Christmas Eve service at church, especially if it’s candle lit.

I love the old ornaments we’ve got on our tree. Little brightly colored pieces of glass that are slightly tarnished and holding so many memories. They reflect the light so beautifully. They’re just things, but to me they represent so much more. It’s about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

I will celebrate my Savior and it’s a privilege to be able to do so. This is the only month we can say Christ every single day to complete strangers as we wish them a “Merry Christmas”. I say it as often as I can.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow, we only have today. So, today I choose to be grateful for right now. I am grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate the most amazing gift the world has ever received, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It’s worth celebrating, and is my most favorite thing. I will light the lights, hang the ornaments, and bless my loved ones with some homemade cookies to say, “Hallelujah!, The Savior was born!”.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6, NKJV

Love you all,

Meghan

Trials

Prepping for a Storm

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Icy conditions are on the way to Southeast Texas. At least that is what we are being told to prepare for. It’s unusual for us to get freezing temps. When the weather gets colder than normal this time of year, we have to prepare. I can’t help but have horrible flashbacks to last year’s historic storm.  Read about it here It’s Been a Crazy Week in the Great State of Texas

How do you prepare for a storm? It depends on the type of storm. For ice and snow storms, pipes and spigots need protected, plants need brought in, pets kept inside. You have to make sure there are flashlights, plenty of water, and some canned food in case the power goes out. Some people here have generators, but those are not fail proof. Last year many generators stopped working because the lines froze.

We can prepare in every possible way for a storm, and still take on damage. It’s the same in life. The storms will come, guaranteed. We can and should prepare for the storms in our lives to the best of our ability, and resources. We have no control on how long they will last or the havoc they will bring. And there are plenty of storms that we never saw coming. There was no time to prep.

How do you prepare for storms in your life? For the coming storm on the horizon and the unseen ones. Jesus is the only answer. He is the answer to everything. Jesus is the anchor in our storms. We pray. We ask others to pray. We read God’s word, the Bible. We have faith in Jesus. We cry out to Him when the waters rise and we are afraid. We trust in the One who is our anchor in the storm. He is faithful to see us through the storm.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19, CSB 

Maybe you are in the middle of a storm, and you are being bombarded with troubles. All you see are grey skies, and wave after wave keeps crashing over you. Please hold on to Jesus. He is holding on to you. I know it’s hard, and scary, and painful. You will make it. God loves you so much, and He is working all things out for good. God wastes nothing, even our storms.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28, NASB 

I am going outside in a minute to bring in our tropical potted plants, and cover our spigots. I’m going to do what I can, and then leave the rest in God’s hands. I pray you do the same today my friend. God bless and keep you.

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

You are awesome God. You are our provider. Please protect every person who is in the middle of life’s storms. Comfort, provide, and help them. Give them peace, and Your incredible presence. Calm them, and their storms. Answer their cries for help. Wrap Your arms around them and make a way right through the storm. We love You and praise You!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Faith

Shake It Off

meghanewhite

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Over the summer I was at the right place at the right time to capture this bee and butterfly. I’m always on the lookout for butterflies when I’m working in the garden. This scene got my attention in a different way. The beautiful monarch was eating nectar, and the bees would not leave it alone. Bees kept landing on the butterfly’s wings. The monarch was undeterred as it would shake it’s wings and get right back to business.

This pattern kept repeating. Happy monarch eating nectar, busy bees landing on it’s wings. The monarch would flutter it’s wings every time a bee landed on them. This was one determined butterfly. Nothing was going to stop the butterfly from it’s purpose of gathering nectar, not even some very stubborn bees.

We get distracted from our purpose. The enemy loves to get us off course, and stop us dead in our tracks from our Kingdom purposes. He dive bombs us every day with all sorts of things to take our eyes off of Jesus. That’s the last place he wants us looking. Oh no, we can’t have our focus on Christ. Buzz, buzz, buzz.

Some days the distractions are small, and some days the distractions are big. So big that they take our joy away, and steal our hope. We get weighed down, and get hurt. Then we are so busy focusing on the pain and annoyances in life that we have completely forgotten about our victory in Jesus Christ.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV 

Those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior have victory over death and sin. Sin has no hold on us. Death has no sting. The same Jesus who took our sin away also gives us victory over every challenge and problem in this life. We don’t always win every battle, and we will take some losses along the way, but we are winners in the end through Jesus. He already took care of it for us.

Those bees will keep coming. They will try their hardest to land on our wings, and stop us. We will keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. And when we get stung, He will help us, and heal us, and we will start again.

Shake off the distractions. Eyes on Jesus. We have victory through Him.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2, Berean Study Bible

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

Thank you for your perfect love and grace. Thank you for Jesus. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. When we get distracted, help get our focus back on the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Thank you for the victory we have in Jesus in every circumstance, and every trial. We belong to You, and You always take care of your children.

Amen

God

The Lord Bless You

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“‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
 the Lord make his face shine upon you
    and be gracious to you;
 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

Numbers 6:24-26, NIV

The Priestly Blessing is one of the most beautiful passages in scripture. I adore these verses. There are denominations that end each service by reading this blessing. What an incredible way to end a time of worship.

These are God’s words to the Israelites and to us. God loves us so much. He is with us, guiding us, protecting us, shining His face on us. This is miraculous. The God of the universe is infinite and intimate.

When the Lord gave these words to Moses to tell Aaron and his sons, Israel would soon leave Sinai and head out to the desert.

34 For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ Numbers 14:34, NIV

The Lord used those forty years in the desert to prepare the Israelites for the Promised Land. They would need that daily reminder of the Lord’s love and faithfulness. This was His blessing for the journey through the dessert.

You might be in a desert right now, or about to go through one. You will make it. The Lord will bless you and keep you. You may have to eat some manna during the desert time, but you will come out stronger with a deeper faith in the Lord.

God never lets time in the desert go to waste.

There were countless miracles in the wilderness for the Israelites. God provided manna and quail. Their flocks increased. God blessed them with health. They followed a supernatural cloud by day and fire by night. All these things and more happened in the desert.

I can’t help but think of what is happening right now. As the world turns against Christians increasingly more and more, we must keep our eyes on the Lord. The Lord will sustain us. The Lord will continue to bless us. The Lord will keep us. The Lord will keep shining His face on us.

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27, NIV

The Lord is the one who blesses through the words spoken by the priests. God putting His name on the people shows they belong to Him, and He is the source of all blessings. Those of us in Christ are now children of God through our faith in Jesus (Galations 3:26). We belong to God from whom all blessings flow and we bear the name of Jesus (1 Peter 4:16). In Jesus we have every single thing we need.

The Lord bless you and keep you,

the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you peace.

Amen

Love you all,

Meghan

Jesus, The Early Church

Come, Follow Me

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Photo by Nick Kwan on Pexels.com

I wonder if I had lived when Jesus walked the Earth, would I have followed Him? I am absolutely amazed at the first disciples, and their willingness to follow Jesus, no matter the cost. Following Jesus in those days came at a great cost.

Jesus, God’s Son, was walking along the Sea of Galilee when He sees Simon and Andrew working. They were fishing because that was their job. I can only imagine this scene. God, in the flesh, invites them to join Him. What an honor!

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:16-17, NIV

This was very unusual for a rabbi. People would flock to a rabbi, very few were called by a rabbi to follow them. This was no ordinary teacher, and no ordinary person. The one calling Simon and Andrew was Jesus, the Savior.

At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:18, NIV

Simon and Andrew dropped their nets and followed Jesus, immediately. They did not hesitate. They did not tell Jesus no. They did not say they would think about it. They left their livelihoods to follow Jesus. Simon and Andrew walked away from their careers when they dropped those nets.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:19-20, NIV

The same scenario repeats itself with the calling of James and John. They followed Jesus, leaving behind their father. All four of these men willingly followed Jesus and left jobs and family to do so.

Burly fishermen were called by Jesus to follow Him, and they answered the call without reservation.

These guys didn’t even fully know or understand who Jesus was when they answered His call on their lives, yet they followed Him. I want this kind of passion as a Christ Follower. Am I willing to let go of everything and follow Jesus wholeheartedly?

Jesus says, “Come, follow me,” to you and to me. He is calling all of us, but are we willing? There is a cost to following to Jesus. We must die to ourselves.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34, NIV

The rewards to following Jesus are greater than the losses. He says we will be fishers of men. We get the awesome privilege to participate with Jesus in His work. That’s big. That’s huge. God’s Son wants to use us in His Kingdom work.

May we drop everything and run with abandon to Jesus.

I want to follow Jesus all the days of my life.

Jesus is worth it.

Love you all,

Meghan

Heavenly Father,

You are awesome, holy God. The one true God. Thank you for Jesus. May we clearly hear His voice and answer His call on our lives with no reservations. We love you and praise you!

Amen