A Crazy (about Christ) Christmas

A Crazy (about Christ) Christmas

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:3

Santa, reindeer, elves, and stockings,

Trees, wreaths, ribbons, and bows

These all overwhelm us in December

But it should be Christ, that we remember. 

Parties, concerts, and gifts to buy

There’s a crazy chaos this time of year.

But let’s be crazy about & magnify our Savior,

Let’s exalt Christ in our words and behavior.

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and Friend

To Thee our sounds of praise ascend!

-Rhonda Sawtelle

What a Day Brings Forth

I love God's timing. 

As I was cleaning out files yesterday and today, I came across several copies a poem I wrote on August 15, 2001... in several different files. 

I remember that day VERY well. I had an appointment downtown Chicago at a Rehab Institute for an evaluation on my back. I had planned for this appointment for weeks, gather all the necessary x-rays, medical records, etc. I had the train schedule almost memorized. That morning I woke up got ready and went to leave for the train station... only my car would not start. The battery was dead. Ok, that was NOT in my plans! I quickly called a few taxi companies until I found one that could come ASAP. I made it downtown in time for my appointment and a friend picked me up from the train station and brought me back home. 

On the train on the way into the City, I wrote this poem: 

What a Day Brings Forth—

No matter how well I prepare; 

no matter how well I plan;

What a day brings forth is not in my hands. 

Making phone calls, confirming dates; 

Copying records; checking the list;

What a day will bring forth —there is no way to predict. 

The unexpected can be a blessing in disguise.

Consider the adventure, and the surprise—

Instead of focusing on the whats and whys. 

I do know—beyond any doubt

What a day brings forth in not in my hands, 

But this day is EXACTLY what God has planned! 

-R.Sawtelle • August 15, 2001

Since God had me find this poem... several times, I guess He wants to remind me that He does have some surprises and a PERFECT plan as I prepare to move. Isn't God great?!!!

Thing Joy

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 27. Here is what I learned.

I truly believe I will see the Lord’s goodness ·during my life [in the land of the living]. Psalm 27:13 (EXB)

Believe: assurance, believe, bring up, establish, steadfast, be firm or faithful, to trust to be permanent or quiet.

See: advise self, appear, approve, behold, consider, discern, have experience, gaze, take heed, perceive.

Lord: deity Yahweh.

Goodness: good things of/as given by God, thing joy, beauty, gladness, welfare.

Land: country, earth, field, world nations.

Living: age, alive, appetite, wild beast, company, congregation, lifetime, lively.

Thing Joy

by Rhonda Sawtelle

As I look around what do I see?

Sadness, despair, pain, and calamity.

As I look up what do I see?

Happiness, hope, comfort and prosperity.

Perception changes seeing as God’s sees.

And trusting that God has perfect strategies,

To accomplish His will through me and teach me,

In the midst of pain will come amazing beauty.

As I look around what do I see?

God is at work—and working mightily.

God’s ‘Thing Joy’ is surrounding me—

As through His eyes the world I perceive.

“Thing Joy”—goodness beyond reality.

Given by God, it can be an actuality.

“Thing Joy” produces life full of vitality.

Sadness or joy—the choice is up to me.

As I look around what do I see?

The choice is mine, to see God’s goodness and  hope and see Him accomplishing His plan, or see the world through my eyes without hope. To create a positive day, I have to see as God sees and understand that God provides “Thing Joy”—even in a world that seems to be full of despair.

God is Faithful

God is Faithful

by Rhonda Sawtelle

God, my Confidant, my Savior,
Faithful is His code of behavior.
Steadfast, unchangeable, unshakable.
Being something different—He’s just unable.
I Am can be nothing other than who He is.

True blue, never slow, never wavering.
Rock-solid; forever unchanging.
In the past, He has proven Himself true.
In the present and future, He’ll simply continue.
I Am can be nothing other than who He is.

Promises kept, loyal, reliable, sure.
Awesome faithfulness—without measure.
No role in God’s faithfulness, has human frailty.
Unfaithfulness to God’s Being is contrary.
I Am can be nothing other than who He is.

Unfathomable, incomprehensible,
It is simply and utterly impossible—
Unfaithfulness is not even a choice.
In God’s faithfulness—with assurance—rejoice.
I Am can be nothing other than Who He Is.

__________________________

“When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 6:17-19 (The Message)

The guarantee of God's promises provide a rock-solid base to making any and every day positive!

New Years Recipe

New Years Recipe

 
Take twelve whole months,
Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate, and jealousy,
Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.
 
Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or
thirty-one different parts,
but don't make up the whole batch at once.
Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.
 
Mix well into each day one part of faith,
one part of patience, one part of courage,
and one part of work.
 
Add to each day one part of hope,
faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.
Blend with one part prayer,
one part meditation, and one good deed.
Season the whole with a dash of good spirits,
a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play,
and a cupful of good humor.
 
Pour all of this into a vessel of love.
Cook thoroughly over radiant joy,
garnish with a smile,
and serve with quietness, unselfishness,
and cheerfulness.
 
You're bound to have a Happy New Year. 
Author Unknown