Once Upon a Christmas by Selah

THIS IS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT (by Helen Steiner Rice)

CHRISTmas  to me is a Gift from above--
   a Gift of Salvation born of God's Love,
For far beyond what my mind comprehends
   my eternal future completely depends
On that first CHRISTmas night centuries ago
   when God sent His Son to the earth below...
For if the CHRIST Child had not been born
    there would be no rejoicing on Easter morn,
For only because CHRIST was born and died
   and hung on a cross to be crucified
Can worldly sinners like you and me
   be fit to live in eternity...
So CHRISTmas is more than "getting and giving"--
   it's the why and the wherefore of infinite living,
It's the positive proof for doubting God never
   for in His Kingdom life is forever...
And that is the reason that on CHRISTmas Day
   I can only kneel down and prayerfully say,
"Thank You, God, for sending Your Son
   so when my work on earth is done
I can look at last on Your Holy Face
   knowing You saved me alone by Your Grace!"

May you and your family have a blessed and joyous CHRISTmas! Celebrate the Gift!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:15

Game Review: Keys of the Kingdom

Keys of the Kingdom is an interesting brain puzzle/logic game. You go through different levels solving puzzles, trying to get the brick with the lock and the brick with the key to come together. It gets tricky as the levels pass by! There are bombs and pulleys that make the puzzles more complicated. Like-colored bricks blow up if you pull them together. A Bible verse pops up between each level. There are 100 levels. My daughter likes the pretty sparkles that happen whenever you click on something. We’ve enjoyed solving the challenging puzzles and being encouraged with God’s Word. We’re looking forward to helping Sir Lancelot succeed in freeing the people from the oppressive king. The journey to the King’s castle is filled with puzzling adventures :). Lots of fun for everyone!

~I received this CD-rom for free from LB Games in an exchange of my honest review. LB Games produces quality PC-based Christian interactive games for children, teens and adults. Their games are supported by Focus on the Family, the Billy Graham Center and many preachers who appreciate that their games provide a healthy alternative to other violent games. I share their approval.

The Week in Words #1

"Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8b-10)  We named our homeschool, "Children of Light Christian Academy."  We want our children to live their lives as children of light, bearing the fruit of the light and aiming to please God in all areas, including their learning.

"Day by day, dear Lord, of Thee three things I pray: to see Thee more clearly, to love Thee more dearly, to follow Thee more nearly day by day. Amen." ~ St. Richard of Chichester, 1197-1253
Isn't that a wonderful prayer?  That's my desire for each day, too.

"I will place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of Christ." "All that I am I owe to Jesus Christ, revealed to me in His divine Book." "Without Christ, not one step; with Him, anywhere!" ~ David Livingstone (Scottish physician, missionary, & explorer)
I love these 3 quotes from David Livingstone.  The first one is a challenge for us to examine how we view our possessions.  They should hold no value or significance to us if they do not help contribute to the kingdom of Christ.  "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him." (Philippians 3:8-9a)

"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." ~Johann Sebastian Bach (He signed "SDG" at the bottom of his works (musical manuscripts); SDG = Soli Deo Gloria = Glory to God alone.)
I wish all musicians would share the same attitude/view as Bach.  I believe the aim of all that we do and say should be for the glory of God...to please and honor Him.  "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

"Be thou content to leave thy prayer in His hands, Who knows when to give, and how to give, and what to give, and what to withhold." ~Charles H. Spurgeon (from Morning and Evening, page164)
This quote reminds me to be content to leave my prayer in God's hands.  I need to let go of my burdens/concerns and rest in knowing that God is in control and that He wants what's best for me.

What Has Been On My Mind?

This week, I'm doing something different :).  I copied and pasted what I've been sharing on my Facebook and Twitter.  In the box asking, "What's on your mind?" (on FB) and "What's happening?" (on Twitter), I usually share Bible verses, inspirational quotes, and my thoughts.  Here are some random things that have been on my mind:

"My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed...I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go 'til He comes, give 'til I drop, preach 'til all know, and work 'til He stops me." ~Anne Graham Lotz

"The most important part of our task will be to tell everyone who will listen that Jesus is the only answer to the problems that are disturbing the hearts of men and nations." ~Betsie ten Boom

Life is short; the need to share the Gospel with the lost is urgent. Death is not the worst thing; being separated from God for eternity is.

"There may be days of darkness and distress, when sin has power to tempt, and care to press. Yet in the darkest day I will not fear, for 'midst the shadows, You will still be near. Thank You, Lord Jesus." ~Corrie ten Boom

"How we respond to difficulties will determine whether we are a winner or a whiner. One of Satan’s first temptations when our life appears to be on hold is to tempt us to live by feelings instead of faith." ~Michael Youssef

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) Let us rest in God's grace and mercy each day...come what may!

"Jesus answered, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) "Too often we want a roadmap to the future rather than a relationship with the Way." (~Henry Blackaby) Apart from Christ, this life journey is meaningless and hopeless! Make sure you know the Way!

“It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills. It is not LOVE and it is not friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God...It’s better to stand alone with the truth than to be wrong with a multitude.” (~Adrian Rogers)  Let's speak the truth in LOVE ♥ !

"If Christianity seems to you to be having rather less than a remarkable impact on the earth, it is because too many Christians have this idea that we are in a waiting game, that we are basically killing time until Jesus comes back and we all get to go to heaven. We are sitting around like people waiting to catch a flight.... That is not what Jesus told us to do; He didn't say, 'Now hold tight in those pews and twiddle your holy thumbs, I'll be back soon as I can.'" (from Love & War by John and Stasi Eldredge, page 111) Jesus gave us a mission: the Great Commission! Let's be active in serving the King of kings and furthering His kingdom!

"God is not glorified when we kept for ourselves (no matter how thankfully) what we ought to be using to alleviate the misery of unevangelized, uneducated, unmedicated, and unfed millions." ~John Piper

"Sympathy is no substitute for action."(David Livingstone, missionary to Africa) "No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he had only had good intentions."(Margaret Thatcher) Faith without action is dead. Love without action is hypocrisy.What are we doing to reach the lost, to help the needy, to give hope to the hopeless, to save the unborn, to feed the hungry, etc.? Sympathy and good intentions just don't cut it!

"Farewell, vain world; my soul bids you adieu. My Savior taught me to abandon you. Your charms may gratify a sensual mind, but cannot please a soul for God designed." ~David Brainerd

You know that you truly love someone when you still love that person even when he/she is unloveable. How thankful I am that God loves me so!

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "Love sent my Lord to the cross of shame, Love found a way, O praise His holy name!" Unknown

Disappointment & discontent occur when we assume we know how life should be and what God should do, instead of trusting God who knows what's best.

Strive to be like Christ, but never glorify our Christlikeness, in place of Christ.


~Please visit here for the links to other Spiritual Sundays posts. Have a blessed day in the Lord, everyone!

Plentiful Harvest

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."" Matthew 9:35-38

Plentiful harvest...but few workers!  May we be filled with Christ's compassion and get to work!  Praying, sending, going...let's get involved in reaching the lost in any way we can.  Life is short.  Hell is real.  Many have not heard the Gospel.  What are we doing to make an eternal impact?
To find out more, please read my daughter's article, "Plentiful Harvest" at Growing In Grace (online) Magazine. 


Previous WFW:

- Brotherly Love

- Fruit Bearer

- More Than Conquerors
- Where Does My Help Come From?
- Jubilant, Joy, and Judge
- Rooted in Love
- Who Daily Bears Our Burdens?
- Reflecting the Lord's Glory
- The Rock Eternal
- His Eye Is On The Sparrow