1 John 4:7-8 (Amplified Bible)
7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
One of the most over used words in the dictionary is love – there are so many things that we attach this emotion to – I love ice cream – I love my dog – I love my job – and in the English language we use that same word to say I love my husband (or wife), I love my children, I love my parents.
It seems like there should be more than one word to express love in English as there is in Greek. For those that are interested I have attached a page from Wilkipedia the different meanings of the word love in the Greek language.
What I want to share with you today is my own journey with love. When I became an adult I did not have a natural ability to love – years of being rejected and disappointed by those I loved caused me to be on guard, to be unable to really trust people’s intentions, and certainly not their heart. I really lived a double standard because I conveyed a desire to sacrificially serve people and to give unselfishly, placing myself in a position of giving, so I would not be dependent on others to give to me – therein making it difficult for me to be disappointed!
How many know that when you live like that and you say you are a Christian – it becomes a prime opportunity for God to make you – DEPENDENT! For years I suffered being dependent on people, places, and things – out of my control (and that is really what it is all about) and being forced to live contrary to my goals and aspirations -
The whole story would take a book to tell – so I’m going to skip to the day when I realized that I was not just singing the song in church:
“Beloved, let us love one another – for love is of God – and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God -
He that Loveth not, knoweth not God, because God is love -
Beloved, let us love one another – 1 John 4: 7 & 8.” read more...

God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble.” Psalm 46:1 KJV read more...

Luke 2:18-20 (King James Version)
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
At this time of the year we all turn to the familiar scriptures relaying the birth of the Christ Child. When God wants to get a message across He does not depend on only one group to get that message to the intended source (He knows that sometimes His people don’t obey).
The important news that indeed God had come into the world, reconciling man unto Himself was given to Mary, to the shepherds, and to the Wise Men. How many of you know that even when God tells us something and even when we believe it in our heart, we still look for confirmation? Mary was no different. The angel Gabriel had already come and told her what would befall her, she accepted her assignment (Be it unto me…), and she walked out her course and through much shame and ridicule carried the Son of God to term and brought Him to birth.  Yet how marvelous it was when the shepherds came at the birth of her son and told her and those around her, the marvelous words that had been breathed to her by Gabriel. Scripture declares that “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
We are no different. When God privileges us to bring forth children, He also gives a glimpse as to their potential. As they walk out their journey – we appreciate any and all confirmation that what we believe about them – will come to pass. We have a more sure word of prophecy and I encourage you to claim His Word for your children. Long ago I made the following scripture one of my life verses – one I was going to hold fast to no matter what it looked like, felt like, or sounded like. If there was one scripture that I would not waiver on – it was this:
13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
And great shall be the peace of your children. NKJV Isaiah 54:13
Later on, we were given the gift of the Message Bible and this is how it reads:
All your children will have God for their teacher-
What a mentor for your children! MSG
Over the years I have come to see how God has blessed me for holding fast to that word. Recognizing that God loved my children more than I ever could and He had a plan that was greater than my biggest dream for them has proved to the one area that I can point to and say, “Heretofore has the Lord blessed me!” I am proud of my children and the way their Father God has brought them.
In this Christmas season I pray that each of us will take hold of God’s Word and not only ponder it in our hearts – but watch it come to pass! read more...

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shall be fed.” Psalm 37:3 KJV read more...

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the season – I pray that you will join with me in receiving the truth of God’s word to strengthen us for the New Year ahead! I am going to send to you an expression some of my favorite scriptures as my gift to you. I pray you be as encouraged as I have been from the greatest gift I ever received – God’s word! read more...