25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs - sorry it is so late

I could not decide what song I would post for Christmas day - and so I went over and over again in my mind thinking what I would post. Today I came across this video of my Friends Jeanne and Martin singing one of my favorite songs that I have not yet posted, Do You Hear What I Hear!
I hope you can open the link, it is off the Seacoast School of Worship Facebook page, if it doesn't play here like their page and play it there! (They are worth following).

Do You Hear what I Hear?

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

I know I recently posted this on Facebook but it is one of my favorite songs. This year is going to be a Different Kind of Christmas for so many who have lost loved ones. I pray that in the mist of the grief they can find Peace. Jesus said; My peace I leave with you, not as the world gives...There is a perfect peace that passes all understanding! May the peace of Christmas be with everyone this year, especially those facing a Different Kind of Christmas!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

I like this song, and I enjoy the movie but the reason I am posting in my list is because as I was playing it tonight Cooper yelled, I LOVE THIS SONG! So because of his enthusiasm I'm posting it as one of my favorite songs!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 22

My Christmas prayer for everyone this Christmas Season! May you experience the Joy, Hope, Peace and Love of Christmas this year more than ever before.

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 21

I was planning on posting this song, and then it popped up as part of my morning devotional - love when God connects the two.

God sent his angels to the lowly shepherds to announce the birth of a King!? They went to see Jesus and then proclaimed to all what they had witnessed. Jesus told us to do the same thing - "Go and tell the Good News to EVERYONE!" Use your words, show God's love in your actions...GO! Oh Hallelujah! Jesus Christ is Born! (and guess what? He's coming back!)

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Days 19 and 20

This is actually my favorite song of all time! I'm just glad someone things it can be a Christmas song too. May your day be Joyful!



And since I missed posting yesterday - not sure why? Here is an extra to catch up!

The first time I heard this song was after the death of a friend and I couldn't help but think about how her family's Christmas was going to be different that year. And I prayed that her mom and sister could find peace and joy during the season.

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 18

Jingle Bells is one of those songs that can get on your nerves, unless you find a fun rendition. Here is one of my favorite by one of my favorite artists.  Tap your toe, sing along and enjoy the smile that will be on your face when you've listened to this song, you can't help but smile.

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 17

Nothing gets your blood flowing like a great version of the Hallelujah Chorus! We sang this in the church choir and I loved it! Enjoy this version of the Hallelujah chorus and remember that Jesus was the one born of God, the Lamb who was Worthy to be Slain! HALLELUJAH! - You just can't say that word without a getting a smile on your face!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

This is one of those songs that you need to listen to the lyrics to really appreciate the song. It is so true, not only about Jesus but about family, A baby changes everything. So thankful for God sending Jesus to change the way the world views life, time and everything! Merry Christmas!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 15 (two for one)

One of my fondest memories of Christmas is going to church on Christmas Eve. We would attend the early service, my sister and I usually sang in the choir and/or played a part in the children's nativity. Then after service we would go home and have a party with family and friends.  We would usually return again to church for the 11pm service, which was my favorite.  At the end of service, like in most churches we would light candles and sing Silent Night. It was a beautiful thing.  I always remember the pastor saying at the end - It's December 25, Christmas Morning, go and shine the Light of Jesus. Then we would walk home - my favorite was walking home in the snow.  It just made Christmas, Christmas. Here is my favorite version of Silent Night.



I told you it was a two for one! My other favorite song we sang at church while I was growing up was at the end of every service leading up to Christmas and it was the Peace Carol - Once again, here are the muppets with John Denver and the Peace Carol.

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 14

I've always loved the song The Little Drummer Boy, and of course the tv Christmas Special. This is my favorite version of that song! Enjoy!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

This is another one of those songs I kick off the season with, usually around the beginning of October! I love it from Mame, sung by Lucille Ball - a bad singer but amazing actress! And I think it is a great song for right now!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs -Day 12

My favorite Christmas songs, as you know if you've been following my posts, tell the story of the Birth of Christ. Here is another favorite by to great artists, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers called Once Upon A Christmas...enjoy!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 11

I'm not a big fan of the 12 Days of Christmas but when I heard this one I couldn't stop laughing! Enjoy!



The 12 Pains of Christmas is a good one too!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 10

This has become my favorite Christmas Worship Song. Here it is performed by Chris Tomlin, but this song was written by my friend Martin Chalk. Click Here to hear Martin Chalk perform Adore.

I am so proud of Martin. He is such a talented Man of God and so humble. This is not his first song that he wrote and Chris Tomlin recorded. Thank you Martin for your gifts and talents and for sharing them with the world. I pray God will bless you with more songs that will change the way we worship our God and King! Thank you Chris Tomlin for recognizing the Awesomeness of Martin Chalk!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 9







Meghan introduced me to this song last year. So powerful to think about - How many kings step down from their thrones, how many greats have become the least for me! God gave his one and only son. Jesus left heaven and came to earth to live a blameless life, but was put to death for our sins! Would you give up your child's life for someone else? Just a great reminder of how much God loves us! An unconditional love. We've done nothing to earn his love or his forgiveness, he does it because he loves us.

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 8

I need to note that these songs are not listed in order of favorites - these are just listed randomly, because if you ask me what my favorite Christmas song is, it would change with my mood. These are just 25 of my favorite Christmas songs - I have so many more. There are few Christmas songs that I don't like. (yes there are a couple, but very few)

Today's song is a song that brings together my two most wonderful times of the year! Christmas - the birth of our Lord and Savior and Easter when Christ completed the work he came to do. He came as a baby, grew into a man and teacher. He died a death that he did not deserve, he did nothing wrong, but he did it for us! But it did not end there - God rose Jesus from the dead to give us the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven! Listen to the lyric and remember what God did for you and how much he loves you!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 7



2



A flashback to my childhood! (No I'm not that old I just remember hearing it on the radio). This is one of those songs that you never hear anymore but I still listen to it at Christmas time. (So thankful for YouTube!) Just a fun song, I hope you enjoy!

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 6



White Winter Hymnal is a song I just heard for the first time this season. This is the one song I'm probably going to tell you NOT to listen so much to lyrics but the rhythm of the song. (The words are kind of weird...) But the sound and the tune of the song are what caught my attention. This is one of my favorite - unique songs of Christmas...it really has nothing to do with Christmas as much as it does winter time. - So enjoy!



M

25 Days of My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 5

My Favorite Christmas Songs - Day 5

This is a narrative of the history (another favorite subject) of the song, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. The story is sad, but filled with Hope. I didn't used to like this song, but when I heard this (and there are some creative liberties on the story) it changed me. Again you have to listen to appreciated the song.

My favorite lines are;

And in dispair I bowed my head
There is no peace on Earth I said
For hate is strong, that mocks the song
of Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men.

Doesn't the world feel that way sometimes. Especially when you can't turn on the television or look on Facebook without seeing and reading about all the hate in the world. But later he writes about the hope in such a dark and scary world...

Then hear the bells roar loud and deep
God is not dead nor does he sleep
The Wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With Peace on Earth Goodwill to men!

My prayer this Christmas Season - and all year long, is that we would all experience peace from knowing Jesus!

25 Of My Favorite Christmas Songs - Days 1-4 (because I procrastinated)

So I had this plan of posting a Christmas Song every day from now till Christmas - my favorite Christmas songs, but I've fallen behind before I started so I'm going to play catch up in this first post.

(I apologize ahead of time for all the ads on YouTube - I have no control over them.)

Day 1 of my Favorite Christmas Songs -

This is one of the first songs I play when I start playing Christmas music because it is a song of anticipation and expectation. The people were waiting for a Messiah to come and save them, but they never imagined he would come as a baby in small village like Bethlehem. This song also reminds me that we too are waiting for the Messiah to return, each day is another day closer to his return...will you be ready?


Day 2 of my Favorite Christmas Songs -

From the first time I heard this song I fell in love with it. Just take some time to listen to the lyrics and imagine Mary, a young unmarried girl being visited by an angel and told she will be the mother of the Son of God. Imagine her thoughts, her fears, her concerns. Imagine her watching Jesus grow up and perform miracles and die on the cross for a sin he did not commit.
(and this group is one of my favorite groups, you'll see them again on this list).


Day 3 of My Favorite Christmas Songs - 

Just like Day 2's song I love the lyrics and the idea of figuring out what Joseph might have been thinking. I could see Joseph having these questions about what was about to happen to him.  Put yourself in Joseph's place - how would you have felt?

Day 4 of My Favorite Christmas Songs -

I sometimes wonder about me - do other people really listen to the lyrics of songs and imagine the story that goes within them? I do, that is why I love this song as well. These past three songs, to me, shows the story of the birth of Christ. What Mary and Joseph must have been thinking. I love it when a song (or a book for that matter) can take me to a place where I can see it unfolding - I can picture myself in the scene. As I continue to post songs, some about the birth of Christ, others just traditional Christmas songs that I love, I ask that you would take the time to really listen to the lyrics. Close your eyes and imagine what it was like back then - Remember your favorite parts of Christmas - and celebrate the season, the reason and the fun of Christmas this year.

Just my thoughts - I hope you find a nugget in them somewhere and I'll add more tomorrow!

Red Sea Rule #9

As I read these rules I can see how each of them apply to my current season in life! Today is Rule #9

This is true! As we look at the house situation and the repairs that need to be done I'm reminded of past times when things like this happened and how God provided for us, and I'm seeing it again as we work on home repairs. I'm seeing his faithfulness in providing for us.

Where I struggle is that I have never been out of a job before. I have worked full time since I was 18, sometimes two and three jobs at a time, so to be out of work and not know when God is going to open the doors for another job is a little scary.  I believe he will, I have faith that he will, but when, where and will I hear him clearly are my struggles.

I told you recently that we were looking at a move out of state, we didn't make the move cause financially we didn't have peace that it was going to work out, because we were basing everything on man. BUT, what if God is asking us to step out in faith, move and trust that he will provide when we get there?  I know it doesn't sound like a logical thing to do, especially with the whole family but then again when did God ask someone to step out in faith and it sounded logical? "Go head Moses tell the Israelites that you are going to hold out your arms and the Red Sea will part and they can walk through on dry ground?" Not sounding like a logical solution to what the Israelites were facing, but they did it in faith and God showed up - like he always does.

God allows trials in our lives to strengthen our faith. It grows us and stretches us and draws us closer to God and our dependance on him.  I have seen in the trails in life I have faced.  When Coleman, our 8 year old daughter with Down Syndrome was 6 months old she needed to have open heart surgery to repair a heart defect. From the time we found out about it until about a month before the surgery I struggled with it. I was sure that she was going to die in surgery. Then one day when I was at a Children's Ministry Conference and we were singing Amazing Grace - My Chains are Gone, God spoke to me. There were probably 10,000 Children's Ministry workers in the room and I felt like it was just God and I. And as I sang the last verse of that song there was a peace that came over me and God spoke to my heart telling me that Coleman was going to be okay, that he was going to take care of her, and he did! Then when she was four years old she got pneumonia and croup at the same time and ended up in ICU on a ventilator for 10 days with round the clock care. At one point she was doing so good they were telling us they would take her off the ventilator the next day. That morning, around 6 am I went into her room and she was surrounded by nurses and doctors and a nurse came out and told me that she took a turn for the worse around 5am and they didn't know what was happening. I remember walking over to the window with tears flowing and looking up towards heaven and saying; "God she is yours and if you choose to take her home I will still love you." I knew what it felt like to think she was going to die once before and God was faithful and I was trusting him to be faithful again. A couple days later she was off the ventilator and we were on our way home with our little girl. Every time I look at Coleman, I am reminded of God's faithfulness in so many ways.

So I know he's got this! I know he has great things in store for me and my family! And I know that he is teaching me not to lean on my own understanding. I am going to trust in his promises. (now please don't read into this and think I'm moving out of state, but rather I'm trusting in God for letting me know if and when the time is right.)How about you, what is your current crisis? Are you seeing God's hand at work? Are you looking for it? And how can it strengthen your faith for the future?
These are my thoughts - hope you found a nugget in there somewhere!

Red Sea Rule #8

Check out today's rule, its one I tend to get wrong most times.

No matter what your back ground is with the Bible I'm pretty sure at some point in time you heard how God parted the Red Sea for the Israelite Children to cross on dry land. It, to me, is one of the most fascinating miracles of the Bible. But I wonder how many of the Israelites standing by the Red Sea watching Moses stretch out his arms were thinking; "Watch this, the water is going to part and we are going to walk right across..." - I can't imagine any of them were. I'm thinking if it were me I would still be looking for a boat to show up and take us to safety.

This rule for me is another one I need to work on. Whenever there is a situation going on in my life and I am crying out to the Lord for help I have ways that I feel He should work. I know how I want the problem solved, I know how I want Him to answer, to work it out.  But in Isaiah 55:8-9 it says; "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond untying you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." 

I've always heard and seen in my life that God works in mysterious ways and this chapter in Robert J. Morgan's book The Red Sea Rules is just a reminder of how awesome God is. I tend to expect God to do what he as done in the past, for me, for my family and friends or even how he worked in the Bible.   If I am in a similar situation as before, I expect God to show up and do as he did before, but that isn't how God works.  Sometimes God performs a miracle. A super natural healing or protection. Sometimes God places someone or something in your life to provide you with what you need. A good friend to talk you down off the ledge, a job when you were down to your last $5. So many things that when you look back you know, that you know, that you know, it was the Hand of God providing. And then sometimes he works it out mysteriously. You don't know how it happened, what really took place, but you know that it was God. A stranger shows up with something you need and you never see that person again. Was it really a person or an angel sent by God to provide for you in your time of need.

In all the craziness that can go on in life, that is going on in life I tend to think I know what I want, how I want it and expect God to do that for me, but that isn't how God works. And you know what, I'm glad for it. God is able to do immeasurably far more than we could ever ask or imagine...Thanks be to God!

These are my thoughts, I hope you can find a nugget in them somewhere.

Red Sea Rule #7

Better late than never!

So all the Rules up to this point have really hit home for me especially, well ALL of them! This season of life that I am in is, as a good friend put it, not so much a season of resting, but more of a season of wrestling. Wanting to hear from God to know what is next for our family and trying my best not to worry or stress out that I hear Him clearly. All the while having home repairs coming in faster than I like, wondering if there is move in the near future and trying not to go stir crazy.  I have days that I really do like this season of life and enjoy being home with Meghan and the kids. Then there are other days when I feel like if I don't get a job and leave the house to do work soon I might end up in the funny farm. Unlike the Israelite Children I don't feel like I am stuck in a corner by a mountain and a sea, but there are days when I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Rule Seven of the Red Sea Rules by Robert J. Morgan states; Envision God's enveloping presence. The bible tells us many times throughout scripture that God is always with us. Deuteronomy 31:6 says God is always with us, He will never leave us or forsake us. Joshua 1:19; "For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Matthew 28:20; "And behold I am with you always to the very end of the age." God is always with us! I love what it says in Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am the one who was and is and is to come." God knows our past, sees our future and is with us NOW!

God's presence was always with the Israelite Children. He went before them and behind them and the same is true for believers today; God is with us, his presence is always here we just need to stop and recognize it.

Robert Morgan gives the reader four things to do to master the practice of the presence of God.

1. Affirm His nearness in your heart! Memorize and claim scriptures that remind you that God is with you - ALWAYS!
2. Visualize God's presence in your mind. I love this one and one I need to get better at doing. Sometimes I forget that God is always with me, but if I visualize God beside me in all that I do, not just when I need Him life would be so much more peace filled.
3. Access God's nearness through prayer - Back to rule number four - PRAY. I used to tell new believers that were having a hard time with praying to put a chair in the room and visualize God sitting in the chair and just talk to him. Makes prayer time easier for some people.
4. Reflect His presence in your demeanor. Basically, how is your attitude? (I know, ouch!)

Let me leave you with a song that runs through my head so often when I'm talking to God or seeking him out, its called Holy Spirit and it is a great song that reminds us of what it is like in the presence of God. (click on the word Holy Spirit to hear the song)

These are my thoughts, hope you found a nugget in them somewhere.

Red Sea Rule #6

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.’” Exodus 14:15

The Israelite children were scared and they were stuck but God said move forward. Rule #6 tells us that when we are unsure of what to do, we just take the next logical step by faith. 

So often when things happen in life when we feel stuck or overwhelmed we shut down. I know this is true for me. I tend to just stop. I know there are things to be done, but I just don’t know where to begin. Or I just feel so overwhelmed I lose all energy then I really don’t want to do anything. The more I shut down the more things pile up and the more I feel overwhelmed…it’s a catch 22 moment.

Going back to what I shared yesterday about a possible move for our family out of state; when we thought this was a go, and a rather quick sell and move we were overwhelmed by all that needed to be done. We started making calls to get home repairs on their way, we started painting, we started planning and in the process became overwhelmed, and we also got ahead of God. Rule #5 states Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work. In the process of staying calm and waiting on God’s timing there are things that can be done while we wait. For instance, we really feel like a move is in our future, we are not sure when, but we feel like it is going to happen, so we wait on the Lord to move. Until then we work on home repairs – some we have to do out of necessity and other we are working on to improve the value of our home for when it is time to sell.

The Israelite Children took that step of faith towards the Red Sea and God showed up!  What are the next steps you need to take while you are waiting on the Lord?

These are my thoughts; I hope you get a nugget out of them.

Red Sea Rule #5

Sorry for the delay again in posting. I was really hoping that when I started these posts I would do one a day until all ten rules were complete, but life happens. So here is Rule #5 - Enjoy!

For someone who struggles with anxiety telling them to stay calm in the mist of an upset is hard. And when so many things seem to be falling apart (sometimes literally) all around you it is hard to stay confident. But I know that there are times when I see an opportunity and I rush ahead of God.

Sometimes I try to put myself in the place of the characters in the Bible story I’m reading. So let’s put ourselves in the place of the Israelite children.  For me, as a former slave who has just been freed, I’ve seen the hand of God move in the plagues on the Egyptians and the protection of my people. Now I’m at the base of the mountain and the edge of the Red Sea feeling trapped because here comes Pharaoh and his men angry and ready to attack. I’ve cried out to the Lord for help but also blamed Moses for bringing us out here to die. At this point I’m sure I would be looking for a passage way up and over the mountain or a boat to take me across the sea, or at least some bamboo to strap together to float across the sea, maybe even some coconuts to make into a radio…okay too much Gilligan’s Island in my life.  But lets face it we all do it – we are faced with an obstacle or decision in our life and we try to figure out what we are going to do on our own.

Here is something that just happened to us as a family and how we handled it. I was recently offered a job with a friend who lives out of state. Meghan and I had been praying that God would open doors for me, we prayed that I would find another job and here it comes, almost out of the blue, and we feel like it is a no brainer. We prayed, God opened a door, must be the job I’m to take. So we start planning a move. We started calling contactors to help do house repairs; roof, drain pipe, AC unit...we start painting, we start cleaning out the old stuff we don’t need to move...It all became so overwhelming so fast. Long story short, it is not the time for us to move, doesn’t mean we won’t move in the next six months to a year, but for now it is not the time to move.

We got ahead of God – we didn’t stay calm, we were overwhelmed with what needed to be done and the amount of time we felt we had to get it done in.  Our Confidence was in us, not in God. And worst of all, we were working this out in our timing, not in God’s timing. We felt like everything had to be done now, this minute and we needed to work around the clock to get it done. We felt so overwhelmed by what needed to be done we couldn't start doing anything. The reality was, God was working things out and He still is and we just need to relax and wait on him. 

My screensaver on my computer has this image on it – 

This is a great reminder that Stress is a human thing and faith is a God thing – when we focus on us, things get stressful, but when we put our faith in God we have reassurance in Him. Since the move is on hold I feel less stressful and more peace about God’s timing.

These are my thoughts and I hope you got a nugget out of it!

Red Sea Rule #4

Sorry for the break in my postings but things around the Kinney house have been a bit chaotic, (I'll explain more in the post) which is why I am excited to share with you Rule #4 from the Red Sea Rules;

Pray - should be the first thing we do, but tends to be the last...why is that?

Lets start off by looking at our story of the Israelite children down by the sea, the Bible tells us that they looked up and saw the Egyptians coming for them and "they cried out to the Lord." (Exodus 14:10) They prayed, I'm sure out of complete fear. Been there before - in a fearful situation and you cry out to the Lord. But you want to know the part that got me? The author of the book pointed out that they "cried out to the Lord. THEN they said to Moses, "because there were no graves in Egypt, have you ten us away to die in the wilderness?" (Exodus 14:10-11) The author points out that they cried out to God but they didn't seem to expect Him to answer.

I'm not sure about you but there have been times in my life where prayer was my last resort. I tried it Scott's way, I cried out to my friends and asked them for advice, but in the end the only way that really worked was God's way. Time after time I would do this pattern, and in the end I would say to myself; "Why didn't I just pray about it in the first place."

There have also been times in my life where I was in a situation or facing a decision and I cried out to God in prayer, but then started figuring out how I was going fix it, solve it, change it...I cried out but I didn't expect an answer.

For example we have repairs to our house that need to be done. They aren't wants, they are needs. (Please understand I am sharing this, not for you to feel sorry for us but rather so you can see how prayer is working in my life through these situations.) We need a new roof, our roof has been leaking for a while now and we keep putting it off because of the cost. Our AC unit is 25 years old and went out a couple of weeks ago, we have window units in the bedrooms but the rest of the house is pretty warm. We found standing water in our garage and thought it was just coming under the door from rain and the garden house, turns out we have a busted drain pipe and the pipe runs under our foundation so they have to tear up our kitchen floor, and possibly our living room floor to replace the broken pipe. All this at one time, while we are waiting to hear from God on what is next for the Kinney family. Lots of waiting, lots of frustration, lots of dollar signs. Through all of this there have been a few sleepless nights, because I started off thinking I need to find a solution to all these problems. Then I was reminded that I -ME - Scott Kinney - did not need to find a solution, all I need to do at this point is pray and seek God's advice, counsel and direction.  I needed to be reminded that in my time of need all I need to do is cry out to God in prayer. Psalm 18:6 says; In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. God hears the cry of HIs people.  Nothing is too Big or too Small for God to care about. If it is important to you, it is important to Him because he cares about you. 
So what is going on in your life today that you need to cry out to God for? I'm happy to join you in praying for God's Will and provision for you so please feel free to share them with me. You can email them to me at scottdkinney@gmail.com 
I would like to ask you to join the Kinney Family in praying for God's Will and provisions in all that we are facing too. I'm learning not to stress out about it but to focus on Rule #2 - Be more concerned for God's Glory than for your relief. I can't wait to see how these situations will play out and to see God be glorified in and through it.
These are just my thoughts, I hope you get a nugget out of it!

Red Sea Rule #3

I hope you have been enjoying my thoughts on this book, but more importantly I hope you have purchased the book, The Red Sea Rules but Robert J. Morgan for yourself - click here to order. ( I get nothing from the purchase of this book) This is just one of those books that I had to share with everyone!
Quick review of Rules 1 & 2;

1. Realize that God means for you to be where you are. (stop fighting it and praise Him for it)
2. Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief. (Ask; how can you be Glorified God?)

And Rule #3 - Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.

In case you didn't know it let me set you straight - Satan is real! John 10:10 tells us that the enemy comes to seek, kill and destroy. Many people don't believe in Satan and his demons, but I promise you he is real and he wants nothing more than to destroy God's children.  Since the beginning of time Satan has tried to become like God. He brought temptation and sin into the Garden of Eden. He is our enemy.  That is one of the reasons I love being a part of Thorn Productions. I love how they show the battle that is going on in the heavenly realms for the souls of man. 

Rule #3 tells us to Acknowledge your enemy, BUT to keep our eyes on the Lord.  So often I get into situations and can feel the attack of the enemy. I can hear him speaking lies into my head and can get so fixed on those lies. When I find myself fixated on the lies of the enemy I start to believe them and what he are saying. But when I realize that it is the enemy speaking, I acknowledge that it is Satan. I tell him to flee in the name of Jesus. The Bible tells us in James 4:7; Resist the devil and he will flee. I then turn my focus to God because the devil has no place in my thoughts.

During this season of my life there have been many times when Satan will try to get into my thoughts - placing doubt and fear in me. It is where a lot of the "What if???" questions I spoke about in my post yesterday come from.  Some days I recognize them for the lies that they are right away and rebuke them and the one saying them to me. Other days I hear them and I think about them, and I ponder them and I worry, and fear...but thankfully God shows me where those thoughts are coming from and I quickly turn my thoughts back to God and place my hope and trust in him.  

I can't imagine how people go through life without knowing and trusting God. 

So remember that when the hard times come and the enemy attacks - Acknowledge the enemy, BUT keep your eyes on the Lord.  After all Satan was already defeated at the cross and in the empty tomb. These are just some of my thoughts and I hope you get a nugget out of them. 

Red Sea Rules #2

Today I'm looking at rule #2 of the Red Sea Rules by Robert Morgan. Rule #1basically told us God has us where we are...Rule #2 states; Be more concerned for God's Glory than for your relief. WOW! Looking at the story of the Israelite children from the book of Exodus, Chapter 14, God lead them out of Egypt and they are now camped out over in the corner of the desert by the mountain and the sea. Then God hardens the heart of Pharaoh who leads his army to kill the Israelites. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
We've all been there. We have all faced being stuck with no where to go and feeling like the world was coming down around us. I know for me I have always asked God to make a way out for ME! To remove ME from this problem/situation. But what Robert Morgan is saying is that instead of us asking God to remove us from the situation. Instead of asking God how do I get out of this? We should ask; "God how will you be glorified in this situation I'm facing?" When we change our question and take the focus off of us, God can do some incredible things and he will receive the Glory.
I know for me in my current season of life I get anxious about what is to come. I have lots of "What if..." questions. What if I don't find another job? What if we have to move away? What if the house doesn't sell? What if, What if, What if... Then I realize that my focus is on me and what I can do and how I can work out the situations in life. After reading this chapter, I'm trying to refocus my questions into "How can you be glorified in my current situation God?" (trust me, its not always easy, but it helpful). If God can part the Red Sea and save the Israelite children from Pharaoh, and that same God can raise Jesus from the dead, then I'm pretty confident he can find me the right job, he can provide for my family, he can sell the house...nothing is impossible for God! So I can worry and ask, get me out of this situation, or I can stop and say God how can you be glorified in my current situation.  I'm thankful that God has me in my current season and confident that he will be glorified as he walks me through my situation.
Those are my thoughts - I hope you get a little nugget out of it all!

The Red Sea Rules - by Robert Morgan

Did you ever get a book and start reading it and realize that it was a God given gift? That the contents of the book are what you need, right then in the situation of life that you are going through? Well that happened to Meghan and I. Meghan received a book from a friend called "The Red Sea Rules" by Robert J. Morgan. She read it first and would comment to me often on how I needed to read the book and how it applies to the season of life that we are currently in. I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of reading, but during this season of rest for me I have been looking for books to read that will "inspire" me. I had just purchased a book by Joyce Meyer called "Get Your Hopes Up" and had started to read it and I cannot read more than one book at a time, it gets too confusing for me. So I decided to put my book down and read The Red Sea Rules because it was only on loan from Meghan's friend and we were going to need to return it soon.  I am so glad I am reading it!

It really is one of those - "this is what I'm going through" kind of books. Now I'm only on chapter three but as I have been reading I felt like I was to share some of my thoughts about the rules Robert Morgan talks about. But please, don't take my word for it, go get the book and read it yourself.

The book is about these Rules that Robert Morgan has pulled out from reading the story in Exodus 14 of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. So let's dive in to my thoughts...

Rule #1 states - Realize that God means for you to be where you are. This spoke to me because for the past almost four months I have found myself in a new season of life. I'm between jobs (I like to call it a semi-retirement) and trying to figure out what I want to do in the next season of life.  I admit it has not been my most favorite season of life so far. I'm hoping that one day I will look back and love this season for all kinds of great reasons, but for now I'm just being open and honest...I have struggled a bit with being in this season. I've enjoyed the vacation time with my family his summer, but the lack of routine and constant thoughts of "what's next" has been less than enjoyable for me. But after reading Rule #1 I am realizing that God has me in this season of life for a reason. I may not understand it, I may not even like it but God put me here - He not only allowed me to be in this season, I believe he orchestrated the whole thing. 

Just like God lead the Israelite Children across the desert to the Red Sea and had them camp there, I believe he has lead me to this season I am in and wants me to camp here. I don't know for how long, it may be for another week, maybe another ten months, only God knows. But I'm here and I'm here for a reason. It may be to learn to rest, it may be to learn to trust him, but whatever the reason, I am realizing that God means for me to be where I am right now. And if I were to be honest with myself I really am starting to enjoy it, especially when I keep my focus on God and know that He placed me here and he will release me in His perfect timing. And when I keep my focus on God the "what ifs..." of life don't seem to matter as much because I know God's Got this.

Those are my thought on Rule #1 - Realize that God means for you to be where you are.  If you have read the book share with me your thoughts as we go through these rules together. If you have not read the book I recommend you get it. Here's a link to get it on Amazon - Red Sea Rules

I hope you got a nugget out of this somewhere!

Confessions of a closet ______ Fan...

To bring everyone up to speed…a little over 3 months ago I left my position in Children’s Ministry. Part of the reason I left was God was calling me to a season of rest. Well if you know me rest is not something I do easily. I like to be busy…I like to be doing things. Since I was eighteen years old I have been working 40+ hours a week, sometimes at multiple jobs.  Going from full speed to stop is not something I have enjoyed at all. There were moments of depression as well as moments of hearing God speaking. (And yes I know "resting" isn't just sitting around doing nothing, but its not being active like I'm used to) We did enjoy a three week family vacation visiting family and friends in PA, Ohio and Michigan. (with hopes of more traveling this summer and fall).

I have also done a few things that I’m not totally proud of, so allow me this time to confess…in the last few weeks I have watched all six seasons of…(wait for it)…Glee!  Yes I admit it, I’m a closet Glee fan. Now some of you probably aren’t too surprised to hear this since you know of my love for Broadway Musicals.  The first time I watched the show, when it first aired, I didn’t like it. But in my, “stuck at home without a job” rut I started watching it one night on Netflix and I couldn’t stop.   As cheesy as it can be at times I have to admit it has some good writers and some wonderfully talented actors. (The way I judge if an actor or show is good or not is how quickly I feel like I have become a part of the show). I have to say I learned a great deal from the show as well. By the way, this is not a debate on if the show has good moral ethics. I already admitted watching it and knowing it wasn’t the best morality show out there, however I did learn from it. (Romans 8:28)

The show is all about following your dreams. It focuses a lot on not just following your dreams in life, but also believing in who you are! (Again I’m not here to debate the moral ethics of the show). But after watching the show I really believe it is important to follow your dreams.

One of my favorite characters in the show is William Schuester, the Glee Club Coach. He reminds me a lot of one of my teachers in high school, DeAnne Casteel, not just because they share a love for the arts but because DeAnne also had this knack of pulling the “outcast” out of their shell and helping them to shine and to always follow their dreams.

Throughout the entire show, Mr. Schu, as the kids call him, is always fighting for the kids, helping them with their problems and teaching them to be themselves and to follow their dreams. There is one particular scene that stuck with me from season six where Mr. Schu is helping Rachel, a former glee club student who failed as a television star and now has come back home to find her parents are divorcing and selling her childhood house – she feels like her world is coming down around here. Mr. Schu, shares what I feel is some good advice for facing lifes’ challenges. He compares life with a bow and arrow and says;

“The power is created by the bending of the bow. The more the bow bends the more potential energy is created. Life’s challenges are just the bending of the bow. The bigger the challenge, the more the bow bends the more potential you create to do something amazing.  All you have to do is find a purpose- find the arrow that you’re gonna put in that bow.”

I love this advice, especially in my current “challenge” in life.  As I mentioned before I have worked full time and multiple jobs for many years of my life. To go from all to nothing has been a challenge. To say that I love my new life of not working would be a lie. I know God has called me to a season of rest but I’m not even sure what that is supposed to look like or how to do it. Most days it is a challenge just to face the day and figure out what I’m supposed to do, but I know that through this challenge God has amazing things in store for me. So when the enemy comes in and tries to steal my joy, or speak lies to me, I need to remember that God has bigger and better things in store for me – I just need to rest and wait on him.

I have other lessons I have learned from Glee and will share them with you at another time… for now I’m going to go sing a song and make myself feel better!

Just my thoughts – hope you found a nugget in there somewhere.