faith

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!

/ lauriemaurey / Leave a comment

Christmas is a season of joy, hope, and celebration. It is a time to remember and rejoice in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is also a time to worship and adore Him, for He is worthy of all our praise.

The Bible tells us that when Jesus was born, a multitude of angels appeared to the shepherds who were watching their flocks by night, and announced the good news of His birth. They said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14). Then they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14). And the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15).

The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem, and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. They saw the fulfillment of the prophecies and the promises of God. They saw the Word made flesh, the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. They saw the one who came to save us from our sins, and to give us eternal life. And they worshiped Him. They bowed down before Him, and adored Him. They glorified and praised God for all the things that they had heard and seen (Luke 2:16-20).

The Bible also tells us that when Jesus was born, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2). They followed the star, which led them to the house where Jesus was. They saw the young child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. They opened their treasures and presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:9-11).

The wise men recognized the majesty and the mystery of Jesus. They saw the one who was born to be the ruler of Israel, and the light of the world. They saw the one who was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, and the revelation of God’s grace and truth. They saw the one who came to bring us peace and joy, and to make us His own. And they worshiped Him. They knelt before Him, and adored Him. They honored and thanked God for His wonderful gift.

The shepherds and the wise men are examples for us today. They show us how to respond to the birth of Jesus. They show us how to come and adore Him. They show us how to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

To come and adore Him means to acknowledge who He is, and what He has done for us. It means to confess that He is the Lord, and that there is no other. It means to believe that He is the Savior, and that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). It means to trust that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

To come and adore Him also means to express our love and gratitude to Him. It means to praise Him with our lips, and to sing to Him with our hearts. It means to thank Him for His love, His mercy, and His grace. It means to offer Him our lives, our gifts, and our service. It means to obey Him, to follow Him, and to imitate Him.

This Christmas, let us come and adore Him. Let us join the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men in worshiping Him. Let us celebrate His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection. Let us proclaim His gospel, His kingdom, and His glory. Let us say with one voice, “O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

Merry Christmas Everyone!

SARAH LAUGHED…

/ lauriemaurey / Leave a comment

As a believer, once we discover the gifts God has given us, we go full on, unwavering. We look at every encouragement from the Lord and others, that causes us to continue this great journey. Sometimes because we love it but also because we can see God using it! Once we begin to know what our gifts are and God moves us into His plan, we are so excited!

We get so busy in what we are doing for the Lord, that sometimes we forget to check in, then totally miss God and get off track. We are so into what we are doing for HIM that we don’t notice when God wants to make a change. That He has a new plan or wants to do a NEW thing!

When my life drastically changed from art shows and street witnessing with that art, I was left feeling lost. I started thinking I must have done something wrong. But after a time of prayer and searching, I never gave up on the gift that He gave me. I knew it was real and watched Him use me in a great way in my past.

I never forgot the Word of Knowledge given to me when I was young, about God using my hands. I have been creative, all of my life. He has used this gift in me, but why did He stop everything so suddenly?

I tried to continue on my own once my husband and partner passed away suddenly. But I couldn’t sustain it. Though I saw other women doing this alone, it wasn’t working for me. I was very lost and couldn’t understand why God would change this great plan that He and I had started and He didn’t tell me. Or was I not listening?

During this time God moved me into a new type of creative work, creating websites and art for Churches. It’s not the same as creating something from your heart, But probably is more far reaching that what I ever did at a craft or art event. The opportunity to speak with Pastors and leaders everyday, gave me a sense of what people in the ministry deal with daily. What their needs are and how to accomplish their goals. Helping them to reach others with the gospel.

Last week, I had the great blessing of speaking with a customer that my team was designing a website for. He is an evangelist, having had a tough life, and God lifted him out of the depths of despair and saved him. He has a great testimony and God has used him to lead many others to a life in Christ.

While we were speaking, he encouraged me with a Word that God is planning something great! That the Lord is still continuing His plan to use me with the talent he gave me so long ago. He told me to continue on and believe and be excited. The evangelist said that GOD is doing a new thing! Then He asked me, “Are you a teacher?” and I laughed.

SARAH LAUGHED…

But God’s Word is true and He never goes back on what he said he was gonna do! In spite of Sarah’s laughing, God did what He promised long ago. So I have to say, What a witness to my spirit! I am so excited to see again what God is gonna do with my hands! Just as He spoke to me, many years ago. I am now more in tune than ever, waiting on Him to use me!

I also encourage you to never give up on your Gifts. God has blessed everyone with a talent and some many talents. But stay in prayer and let God move you into New Things in His Time!

And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and wisdom, with intelligence and understanding, and with the knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs. Exodus 35:31-32