Merry CHRISTmas!

I'd like to wish everyone a very Merry CHRISTmas,

and I hope everyone enjoys their time with family

and friends, and that we remember what is truly

important.

Which is the birth of our Lord and savior!

(although most likely it wasn't during this month)

Usually I read the true Christmas story around this time,

you know Mary Joseph and the whole taboo subject

of the birth of Jesus Christ. I was reading Luke,

and after reading

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree

that a census should be taken

of the entire Roman world.

Luke 2:1

The point of the census was so he could

see just how many people were in the Roman

world, and if they were growing or decreasing,

and the main reason would be for

taxation purposes.

For those who have to know every detail,

I figured ok? why not just find out

if there is any documentation on wether or

not Augustus really did do a census?

because I mean, I know a lot of things

in the New Testament/Old can be historically proven

by just looking at historical facts and documentation.

After reading a little bit I not only found out

that Augustus did a census but he did three of them,

I also got a headache because just looking up

the history behind one sentence in Luke

brought up hours of reading arguments and frankly

stupidity. If you are feeling frisky and want to

really dive into Augustus and the census's I

would suggest reading from a couple sites...

Was Luke wrong about the Census?

Augustus and Roman history

Now as we all know this world-wide census

brought Joseph and Mary to Joseph's hometown

of Bethlehem. A long trip for a pregnant woman for sure,

but thus Jesus ended up being born in Bethlehem which

thus fulfilled the prophecy that the Messiah would be born

in Bethlehem..

But you,Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans

of Judah, out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.

Micah 5:2

Even though we are in these times of "political correctness" I.E

say what you want unless it has to do with Jesus Christ,

and even though this month was probably not

the exact month of his birth, Take the time

to remember what is important, take the time

to celebrate his birth. The meaning of CHRISTmas

has always been about GIVING and we have been given

the greatest gift of all...

God bless to you and yours..

Gods Comfort

I would like to share an amazing story

with those of you who read the blog.

It's not my story, but a true story

that happened with my mom,

not sure why it took me this long to tell it,

as it happened back in summer.

First let me set the story up,

Now my mom has a special relationship with God,

and if it wasn't for her and her faith..

I wouldn't have come to know the Lord.

Which is the same thing she says about

her mom, and sadly she passed on

a little more then a year ago.

My grandma or "Nana" as I called her,

is in a better place for sure,

however she will always be missed.

Understandably for my Mom she really struggled

for awhile with the fact that she was gone,

she never lost her faith or cursed God

at all but in the back of her mind

those questions of "Is she really in heaven God?"

"Is she up there with you now?"

I'm sure came into play.

In short my mom needed some comfort,

not from my Dad or me or my brother,

but from God....I came across this verse

and I think it fits perfectly so you can understand

what I'm saying...

My eyes fail, looking for your promise;

I say, "When will you comfort me?"

Psalm 119:82

Now this is what happened

in my Mom's own words..

while asking God for that promise of comfort.

My Life was forever change on June 24th 2009

I was having a struggle with emotions after losing

my sweet momma, I had to leave my office because

I was so weepy. As I drove across prairie i was noticing

how beautiful the clouds were, I have always been a

cloud gazer, I came to a crossing at Highway 41 and I

stopped at the light, I cried out to God...

"Please God let me know for sure my

Momma is with you!"

The light changed green and I heard the Lord

say;

"When you get home go directly to your back patio window,

I have painted you something in the sky."

I knew he was up to something!

I made a bee line to my back patio window,

and I was in absolute awe of his huge detailed angel-

I couldn't take my eyes off the beauty, God said

" lay down on the grass I have more for you"

then I noticed the dove and the cross,

I jumped up and said running and screaming

"WAIT! LORD WAIT! Let me get my camera!"

He allowed me to get this evidence

of his mercy and love from above!

The angels blowing the trumpets in the upper left corner

I didn't even notice until after the picture was taken.

So now when I have those moments, I only

have to look at this photo and i hear him say;

"She wouldn't want to come back even if I let her,

she is so happy. She will be waiting for you in

the clouds."

I'm nothing special, I just believe

and I know God hears us when we

cry out to him.

For I know the plans I have for you,

" declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and

not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me

when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

It'$ all about the Benjamin$

I'm sure everyone, including those who don't read

the bible, has heard

"Money is the root of all evil"

which comes from 1 Timothy chapter 6.

Now I don't ever really talk about money

in my blogs or on my website,

but what I talk about isn't important per say.

What is important is Gods word, and what

he has to say about money, and money

is mentioned more then a few times

in the bible.

I've mentioned giving and what not,

and probably Matthew 6:21 and Matthew 6:24

"For where your treasure is, there your

heart will be also."

"No one can serve two masters.

Either he will hate one and love

the other, or he will be devoted

to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money."

Thats kind of a given right?

I mean you can't put money first,

you can't make it your whole life

and just throw God in on occasion.

The truth is you can't put anything above God,

as i've said before, because whatever you put first

is essentially your god(your idol).

"A faithful man will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go

unpunished."

Proverbs 28:20

The fact of the matter is money shouldn't be a worry,

getting rich not a priority. God wants you to be happy,

and he will always provide for you if you

just have F.A.I.T.H. Sure, easier said then done..right?

specially in this day and age, and right now with the whole

"economy thing" where we are told to do nothing but

worry. Isn't the creator of all things more important

then a piece of paper? Not to mention he created

this whole universe correct? and everything in it?

and you are worried about money?

worried about if he will provide enough for you?

and let us remember what Jesus said to the rich man

"How hard it is for the rich to enter

the kingdom of heaven"

Mark 10:23

For the rich man was asking how

he can inherit eternal life,

and Jesus told him you know the commandments,

and the man replied that he has kept them

since he was a boy. Jesus then said

the man lacked one thing, and he told him

to go sell everything he has and give it to the poor,

and the man went away sad.

Is Jesus saying everyone has to

live in rags and have no money,

give all we have away? No...

the point was Jesus knew the man

was putting money before God,

and he proved it when he asked the man

to give up everything, and he didn't want to.

I think we all should think about that,

would we be willing to give up all we have

to follow Jesus Christ? and ask yourself that

question, and reply seriously, for sure it would be

easy to say "Hell YES!" but saying and doing are

two different things are they not?

I'd struggle at first to be honest, if one day

I woke up and the roof over my head was gone,

and I had nothing but the clothes on my back,

but I know I'd come around and put my life

in His hands knowing full well he doesn't want

me to suffer and he will provide my true needs.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not

agree to the sound instruction of our Lord

Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,

he is conceited and understand nothing.

He has an unhealthy interest in controversies

and quarrels about words that result in envy,

strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction

between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed

of the truth and who think that godliness is a means

to financial gain.

1 Timothy 6:3-5

Something that gets under my skin, is

people that use God for a profit.

"I'll heal you....just give me money"

and the ever so popular

"Do what God says and follow his word, so

he will bless you with riches"

I don't seek God to get "blessings"...

God is not a get rich quick scheme,

and don't get it twisted...I'm not saying

God won't look out for his flock, that

he wont provide for us.

I'm saying if you are only seeking God

because what you really want is money and "blessings"

then you are a fool, yes YOU ARE A FOOL.

First of all, God judges the heart,

so it's not like he can't see what you

really want, and once again

deep down you are putting money above God,

and hence you are breaking the number one commandment...

"Do not worship any other god"

but lets continue with 1 Timothy chapter 6

before I go off into a rant about false teachers.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out of it. But

if we have food and clothing, we will be

content with that. People who want to get rich

fall into temptation and a trap and into many

foolish and harmful desires that plunge men

into ruin and destruction. For the love of money

is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,

eager for money, have wandered from the faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this,

and pursue righteousness, godliness,

faith,love, endurance and gentleness. Fight

the good fight of the faith.

1 Timothy 6:6-12

For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out of it.

That says it all right there, those who have

there eyes on money and being rich...

better enjoy this short life while they can,

because the next will be far from enjoyable.

May God bless you and keep you...

and your eyes be opened to see,

and your ears to hear.

Psalm 101

I will sing of your love and justice;

to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.

I will be careful to lead a blameless life

When will you come to me?

I will walk in my house with a blameless

heart. I will set before my eyes

no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate;

they will not cling to me.

Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will have nothing to do with evil.

Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,

him will I put to silence;

whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,

him will I not endure.

My eyes will be on the faithful in

the land, that they may dwell with me;

he whose walk is blameless

will minister to me.

No one who practices deceit

will dwell in my house;

no one who speaks falsely

will stand in my presence.

Every morning I will put to silence

all the wicked in the land;

I will cut off every evildoer

from the city of the Lord.

Psalm 101

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 101.

To me it's a reminder of what is truly important,

a promise to put God first above

everything. To live this one life we have

for his glory.