More Of Jesus

I trust that each of you had a peaceful Christmas as you rested in and focused on Jesus. My sons, Wyatt and Yance as well as my daughter's-in-law, Laurel and Elaine and my precious grandson, Preston were all here for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We all missed Ty, but Jesus blessed us with a very special time together as well as with extended family and friends.

Thinking of the new year, I'm reminded that every day is a new beginning. No matter what happened or didn't happen yesterday, I can choose to wake up praising Jesus for His unconditional love and trust Him to give me strength for that day. Granted, I don't always wake up feeling like praising Jesus. Yesterday was one of those days. I don't know how many times I said, "Jesus, help me" throughout the day. He did help me as I chose to rejoice and talk to Him even though I didn't feel like it.

I went to Hutchinson last night to celebrate Christmas with Ty's Grandma Farney and other family. She and Ty shared a Christmas Eve birthday, and she is 99 years old this year. They shared many birthdays together as we would all meet at Ty's parents for breakfast to celebrate their special day. Anyway, it was a very fun evening, but I was feeling quite lonely as I headed home. The first thing I said when I got in my car was "Lord, I miss Ty so much." Then I turned on the radio and heard Dr. Stanley say that we need to be strong and courageous like Joshua. He went on to share from Joshua 1 as I drove home. When I got home and looked up the passage it was such an encouragement and reminder of how to begin the new year that I want to share it here.

Starting in Joshua 1:5 God says to Joshua "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses so I will be with you, I will never leave you nor forsake you. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. BE STRONG AND VERY COURAGEOUS. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

As we all face new challenges and new beginnings in the New Year, God will go with us just like He went with Joshua. It was so great to be reminded of that. The life application helps from my Bible say: "Joshua's new job consisted of leading more that two million people into a strange new land and conquering it. What a challenge--even for a man of Joshua's caliber. Every new job is a challenge. Without God, it can be frightening. With God it can be a great adventure. Just as God was with Joshua, He is with us as we face challenges. We may not conquer nations, but every day we face tough situations, difficult people and temptations. God promises, however, that He will never abandon us or fail to help us. By asking God to direct us we can conquer many of like's challenges. Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead, but the prospect of prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said to succeed Joshua must

(1) BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS because the task ahead would not be easy.

(2) obey God's law, and

(3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law--God's Word.

To be successful, follow God's word's to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes--and His opinion is most important."

We need to commit everything to our Lord and Savior--our goals, ambitions, dreams, money, talents, time, health, and relationships. We need to commit to studying His Word everyday in order to get to know Him better, and we need to make glorifying Him our #1 purpose in life. As my pastor, Jim Dillon, said last Sunday, "When we make Jesus our first priority all the secondary things bring much more joy and blessing."

As Pastor Jim challenged us, I challenge you in this New Year to pray for the most important thing--more of Jesus. He promises in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Life is hard, but God is ALWAYS faithful. I pray that as we begin and continue through this new year that we will become completely faithful in complete commitment to our Faithful God.

The following song was the first one I listened to as I was looking for one to share. It even had a line in it especially for me, that His love brings faith to the widow! I trust that it will bless you as you are reminded of God's love for you and how His love does bring peace, faith, and hope. As He keeps reminding me: He needs to be enough for each of us.

Jesus--The Greatest Gift

Peace, Rest, Quietness. Is that what you're experiencing during this Christmas season? During this very busy time, it's easy to be distracted by the things of this world. We can easily focus on having everything perfect from the perfectly decorated home, the perfect Christmas party, getting and giving perfect gifts and the list goes on and on. Instead our focus should be on the greatest gift--Jesus. As I mentioned last month, I was struggling, discouraged and feeling sorry for myself, but as I chose to focus on Jesus and rejoice and be thankful in spite of my feelings, He gave me peace, comfort and rest.

Recently the Lord has given me much encouragement in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 30:15 says: "In repentance (turning away from my sin) and rest is your salvation, in quietness (at peace, to lie still, be undisturbed) and trust (confidence in who God is and what He can do) is your strength." The application helps from my Bible say: "He will give us the strength to face our difficulties. We should lay aside our busy care and endless effort and allow Him to act." He doesn't want us to be stressed this month as we prepare for His birthday. He wants us to rest in Him and allow Him to help us instead of trying to do everything on our own while hardly thinking of Him at all. Isaiah 26:3 says: "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Again, from the application helps in my Bible: "We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but with God we can know perfect peace even in turmoil. When we are devoted to Him, our whole attitude is steady and stable. Supported by God's unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by the surrounding chaos. Do you want peace? Keep your thoughts on and your trust in God." Choosing to rejoice in Him and praise Him is so important. Oswald Chambers says: "our state of mind is powerful in it's effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by 'the cares of the world'."

During this Christmas season, many struggle with loneliness, discouragement, unmet expectations, stress, etc... I would encourage you to go to Isaiah 41:10,13 often to be reminded of God's promises to strengthen you and help you. "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." How awesome is that--God promises to take our hand and help us, but we have to reach out to Him. I want to choose to do that every minute of every day and to make this Christmas all about Him and loving and caring for others instead of being stressed by the never-ending "perfect Christmas to-do list."

The entry for today in the wonderful little book, Jesus Calling says so well what Jesus has been doing in my life since my husband, Ty, went home to be with Him: "Let Me infuse My peace into your intermost being. As you sit quietly in the Light of My Presence, you can sense Peace growing within you. This is not something that you accomplish through self discipline and willpower; it is opening yourself to receive My blessing.

In this age of independence, people find it hard to acknowledge their neediness. However, I have taken you along a path that has highlighted your need for Me: placing you in situations where your strengths were irrelevant and your weaknesses were glaringly evident. Through the aridity of those desert marches, I have drawn you closer and closer to Myself. You have discovered flowers of Peace blossoming in the most desolate places. You have learned to thank me for hard times and difficult journeys, trusting that through them I accomplish My best work. You have realized that needing Me is the key to knowing Me intimately which is the gift above all gifts."

I pray that each of you will experience intimacy with Jesus this Christmas season as you seek to get to know Him better each day. The peace He gives far exceeds anything this world has to offer. An intimate relationship with Jesus truly is the BEST GIFT of all.

The following song, Here With Me by Mercy Me reminds us of the love of Jesus for each one of us. I loved the verses as well as the pictures on the video. As the song says, I hope that you will feel His presence and be caught up in the wonders of His touch this Christmas.