Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Christmas Dining Table Decoration Cheap and Easy | Interior Designing Blog
I love this idea! I am hosting a table at our tea tomorrow night and I am going to see if I can find some pretty wine glasses in my china cabinet that will work with the gold flameless candles that I purchased to put on the table. :)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
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Christian Perfection | My Utmost For His Highest
Christian Perfection | My Utmost For His Highest
It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself.
It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself.
A Prayer Celebrating the Full Favor of God Resting Upon Us > Christ Community Church
A Prayer Celebrating the Full Favor of God Resting Upon Us > Christ Community Church
A Prayer Celebrating the Full Favor of God Resting Upon Us
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those upon whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13–14
Dear heavenly Father, what a privilege it is to begin my day (and continue it) sitting in this absolutely astonishing affirmation: “Peace to men upon whom his favor rests.”
It’s all right there in this doxological declaration, this angelic proclamation, this gospel-filled affirmation—everything my heart longs for, more than I could have ever hoped for. Because of what you have done for us in Jesus, we can know with certainty that you have made your peace with us—that your favor permanently rests upon us, fully and continuously.
Father, if unredeemed angels were in awe of such good news, how much more should we be staggered and astonished, humbled and grateful, liberated and transformed? The gospel is so much more and so much better than realize.
We invest so much of our lives looking for favor—wanting to be wanted, longing to be celebrated, and seeking to be acceptable. Personally, I’ve looked to people and work, to education and exercise, to money and things, even to spiritual disciplines and ministry to give me what you alone give us so freely and fully in the gospel. You cannot love us more; you will not love us less, and there’s nothing we can do about it!
And what a glorious paradox, Father: the more we come alive to the riches of the gospel, the less we obsess about our own lives. We don’t end up thinking more of ourselves, or less of ourselves; we just think of ourselves less often. How freeing!
Lord Jesus, may this old host of angels drive us into a new worship of you this Advent season. It’s only because you submitted to the fullness of God’s disfavor on the cross that we can boast of having the fullness of God’s favor resting on us. We praise, honor, and adore you. We will not look at your cradle without gazing at your cross. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and loving name.
A Prayer Celebrating the Full Favor of God Resting Upon Us
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those upon whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13–14
Dear heavenly Father, what a privilege it is to begin my day (and continue it) sitting in this absolutely astonishing affirmation: “Peace to men upon whom his favor rests.”
It’s all right there in this doxological declaration, this angelic proclamation, this gospel-filled affirmation—everything my heart longs for, more than I could have ever hoped for. Because of what you have done for us in Jesus, we can know with certainty that you have made your peace with us—that your favor permanently rests upon us, fully and continuously.
Father, if unredeemed angels were in awe of such good news, how much more should we be staggered and astonished, humbled and grateful, liberated and transformed? The gospel is so much more and so much better than realize.
We invest so much of our lives looking for favor—wanting to be wanted, longing to be celebrated, and seeking to be acceptable. Personally, I’ve looked to people and work, to education and exercise, to money and things, even to spiritual disciplines and ministry to give me what you alone give us so freely and fully in the gospel. You cannot love us more; you will not love us less, and there’s nothing we can do about it!
And what a glorious paradox, Father: the more we come alive to the riches of the gospel, the less we obsess about our own lives. We don’t end up thinking more of ourselves, or less of ourselves; we just think of ourselves less often. How freeing!
Lord Jesus, may this old host of angels drive us into a new worship of you this Advent season. It’s only because you submitted to the fullness of God’s disfavor on the cross that we can boast of having the fullness of God’s favor resting on us. We praise, honor, and adore you. We will not look at your cradle without gazing at your cross. So very Amen we pray, in your holy and loving name.
» The Radical Humility of Jesus
» The Radical Humility of Jesus
Innumerable Christmas devotionals point out the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth – among shepherds, in a crude stable, with a feed trough for a bassinet. When Jesus himself tried to summarize why people should take up the yoke of following him, he said it was because he was meek and humble (Matt. 11:29). Seldom, however, do we explore the full implications of how Jesus’ radical humility shapes the way we live our lives every day.
Humility is crucial for Christians. We can only receive Christ through meekness and humility (Matt. 5:3, 5; 18:3-4). Jesus humbled himself and was exalted by God (Phil. 2:8-9); therefore joy and power through humility is the very dynamic of the Christian life (Luke 14:11; 18:14; 1 Pet. 5:5).
The teaching seems simple and obvious. The problem is that it takes great humility to understand humility, and even more to resist the pride that comes so naturally with even a discussion of the subject.
We are on slippery ground because humility cannot be attained directly. Once we become aware of the poison of pride, we begin to notice it all around us. We hear it in the sarcastic, snarky voices in newspaper columns and weblogs. We see it in civic, cultural, and business leaders who never admit weakness or failure. We see it in our neighbors and some friends with their jealousy, self-pity, and boasting.
And so we vow not to talk or act like that. If we then notice ‘a humble turn of mind’ in ourselves, we immediately become smug—but that is pride in our humility. If we catch ourselves doing that we will be particularly impressed with how nuanced and subtle we have become. Humility is so shy. If you begin talking about it, it leaves. To even ask the question, ‘Am I humble?’ is to not be so. Examining your own heart, even for pride, often leads to being proud about your diligence and circumspection.
Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less, as C. S. Lewis so memorably said. It is to be no longer always noticing yourself and how you are doing and how you are being treated. It is ‘blessed self-forgetfulness.’
Humility is a byproduct of belief in the gospel of Christ. In the gospel, we have a confidence not based in our performance but in the love of God in Christ (Rom. 3:22-24). This frees us from having to always be looking at ourselves. Our sin was so great, nothing less than the death of Jesus could save us. He had to die for us. But his love for us was so great, Jesus was glad to die for us.
Innumerable Christmas devotionals point out the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth – among shepherds, in a crude stable, with a feed trough for a bassinet. When Jesus himself tried to summarize why people should take up the yoke of following him, he said it was because he was meek and humble (Matt. 11:29). Seldom, however, do we explore the full implications of how Jesus’ radical humility shapes the way we live our lives every day.
Humility is crucial for Christians. We can only receive Christ through meekness and humility (Matt. 5:3, 5; 18:3-4). Jesus humbled himself and was exalted by God (Phil. 2:8-9); therefore joy and power through humility is the very dynamic of the Christian life (Luke 14:11; 18:14; 1 Pet. 5:5).
The teaching seems simple and obvious. The problem is that it takes great humility to understand humility, and even more to resist the pride that comes so naturally with even a discussion of the subject.
We are on slippery ground because humility cannot be attained directly. Once we become aware of the poison of pride, we begin to notice it all around us. We hear it in the sarcastic, snarky voices in newspaper columns and weblogs. We see it in civic, cultural, and business leaders who never admit weakness or failure. We see it in our neighbors and some friends with their jealousy, self-pity, and boasting.
And so we vow not to talk or act like that. If we then notice ‘a humble turn of mind’ in ourselves, we immediately become smug—but that is pride in our humility. If we catch ourselves doing that we will be particularly impressed with how nuanced and subtle we have become. Humility is so shy. If you begin talking about it, it leaves. To even ask the question, ‘Am I humble?’ is to not be so. Examining your own heart, even for pride, often leads to being proud about your diligence and circumspection.
Christian humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less, as C. S. Lewis so memorably said. It is to be no longer always noticing yourself and how you are doing and how you are being treated. It is ‘blessed self-forgetfulness.’
Humility is a byproduct of belief in the gospel of Christ. In the gospel, we have a confidence not based in our performance but in the love of God in Christ (Rom. 3:22-24). This frees us from having to always be looking at ourselves. Our sin was so great, nothing less than the death of Jesus could save us. He had to die for us. But his love for us was so great, Jesus was glad to die for us.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
A Prayer for Loving from the Heart > Christ Community Church
A Prayer for Loving from the Heart > Christ Community Church
Scotty Smith posted on December 03, 2012 05:07
A Prayer for Loving from the Heart
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. 1 Pet. 1:22–23
Dear Lord Jesus, this is an awesome morning: good coffee, Christmas music playing, and a Scripture about loving well. It’s only because of Advent that I have the slightest clue about what loving well looks like. And it’s only because you lived for me and died for me that I have any experience of being loved deeply from the heart—your heart. You are a most wonderful, merciful Savior.
I need to preach this good news to my heart as this day begins, and continue: Oh joy beyond all delightings; Oh peace beyond all understandings; Oh hope beyond all imaginings—Jesus loves you deeply from his heart, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t add to his love for you and you can’t diminish his love for you. You can simply enjoy it, be changed by it, and share it with others.
Lord Jesus, I never could have “purified myself.” I never could have gained a relationship with God through purgings, penance, and promises of doing more and trying harder. What religion could never do for us, you’ve done for us. It wasn’t my obedience to the law that saved me, but obedience to the truth of the gospel.
That’s what we celebrate at Advent: your coming to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. Indeed, Advent isn’t the coming of a second chance, but the arrival of the Second Adam. “Born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth—Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King!’”
It’s only because I was given the “second birth,” only because I was born again of the “imperishable seed” of grace, that I discovered my need of the gospel and was able to obey the truth of the gospel by believing it. You get all the credit, Jesus, from beginning to end. Salvation is of the Lord!
So as I celebrate your incarnation this early morning, I surrender to its implications. Love in me and love through me, Lord Jesus. There’s no other way I will love anyone well. Make my love for my brothers and sisters sincere and observable. Teach me how to love deeply from my heart, just as you love us. So very Amen I pray, in your holy and loving name.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. 1 Pet. 1:22–23
Dear Lord Jesus, this is an awesome morning: good coffee, Christmas music playing, and a Scripture about loving well. It’s only because of Advent that I have the slightest clue about what loving well looks like. And it’s only because you lived for me and died for me that I have any experience of being loved deeply from the heart—your heart. You are a most wonderful, merciful Savior.
I need to preach this good news to my heart as this day begins, and continue: Oh joy beyond all delightings; Oh peace beyond all understandings; Oh hope beyond all imaginings—Jesus loves you deeply from his heart, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t add to his love for you and you can’t diminish his love for you. You can simply enjoy it, be changed by it, and share it with others.
Lord Jesus, I never could have “purified myself.” I never could have gained a relationship with God through purgings, penance, and promises of doing more and trying harder. What religion could never do for us, you’ve done for us. It wasn’t my obedience to the law that saved me, but obedience to the truth of the gospel.
That’s what we celebrate at Advent: your coming to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. Indeed, Advent isn’t the coming of a second chance, but the arrival of the Second Adam. “Born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth—Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King!’”
It’s only because I was given the “second birth,” only because I was born again of the “imperishable seed” of grace, that I discovered my need of the gospel and was able to obey the truth of the gospel by believing it. You get all the credit, Jesus, from beginning to end. Salvation is of the Lord!
So as I celebrate your incarnation this early morning, I surrender to its implications. Love in me and love through me, Lord Jesus. There’s no other way I will love anyone well. Make my love for my brothers and sisters sincere and observable. Teach me how to love deeply from my heart, just as you love us. So very Amen I pray, in your holy and loving name.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Pull Apart Bacon Bread Recipe - Breakfast.Food.com - 221003
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