Archive for December 18, 2009

18 Dec 2009
Devotionals • General Musings • Internet Cafe Devotions

The Perfect Tree-An Internet Cafe Devotion

 

Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (Luke 18:18-19, New King James Version)

It’s that time of the year, not the “most wonderful part” yet, but the preparations leading up to the “most wonderful time of the year”.

I know it’s going to happen, the one weekend will be spent looking for….the perfect tree.

The one that we are positive, is hiding in a lockbox, in the very back of the tree lot. We figure if we circle around the tree lot twenty times, they would figure we were on to them, relent, and bring out that perfect tree! THAT would make this the best time of the year, with everyone “ooing” and “aaahhing.”

The truth (sorry) is that there is no perfect tree.

Eventually the tree will start losing its pine needles, and the tree has to be taken down before it catches on fire and people think you purposely decided to have a bonfire in your dining room.

I don’t know how my husband does it.

I try to be a good sport and drag follow behind, but when I look at those trees, they all look the same. No matter how many angles I look, it’s a tree and it’s on sale. I shout, “woohoo! Let’s get it!” To my husband, something is always wrong, and we find ourselves walking back and forth. I feel like humming, “999 more trees in the lot.”

Good thing our Father in Heaven doesn’t do that to us.

He doesn’t look at us and say, “I just don’t know-what about this one? Hey got anything better?”

We’re all the same to Him. Sinners in need of saving. Sinners in need of His love.

This is an amazing time of the year, because its’ definitely not about us.

Follow me to the Internet Cafe Devotion

Follow me to the Internet Cafe Devotion

 

Read the rest of this devotion at, “The Internet Cafe“……and never worry, there’s always room for you there.

~Twinkle Mom

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18 Dec 2009
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12 Pearls of Christmas-The Pearls We Pass Down

The Pearls We Pass Down

by Holley Gerth

Ten years ago my Grandma Frances went home to heaven in her sleep just before Christmas.

My Grandpa carefully handed me a brightly-wrapped box on Christmas morning and said, “This is her gift. Now I want you to have it.”

I opened the lid slowly and tears came to my eyes as I saw a lovely string of pearls.

My Mom gently helped me fasten them around my neck. As I ran my fingers over each one, I thought of my Grandmother and all she taught me through her life…

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

FAITH

At age twenty-nine, my Grandma contracted polio and learned she would never walk again. She had a husband, two little girls, and a future suddenly very different than she imagined.

A pastor came to visit her in the hospital. He said, “Frances, this can make you bitter or better.” She often told that story with a sparkle in her eyes as she said, “I chose better.” I learned through her example that faith is a choice and with God we can thrive through anything.

HOPE

My grandparents took a leap of faith and started the first Christian bookstore in their city with a small kiosk in the center of a mall. Over the next few decades that little kiosk grew into a large and successful store that touched countless lives.

Many of my favorite childhood memories are of curling up in the back room with a stack of books. My Grandma taught me hope is like a small seed and, watered with prayer, it can grow into a huge blessing for many.

LOVE

For fifty-six years my grandparents shared a life together. I adore these two pictures because one is taken when they were dating and the other just a few weeks before she died. The twinkle in their eyes is still the same-and that’s not easy in this world. They faced their share of challenges, like my Grandma’s disability, but always got through them together.

My Nana also loved her family deeply. When I went to college, she often wrote notes to me and signed each one, SCTH (Stay Close to Him). She showed me love is a commitment that begins with Christ and then overflows to everyone else in our lives.

I still miss my Grandma Frances, especially this time of year. Sometimes I pull out her string of pearls and hold them in my hands. Then I think about how we’re all creating our legacy as we live. And while the difficulties we face may seem hard to understand now, God can turn each one into beauty that blesses our family for generations.

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Holley Gerth – Cofounder of (in)courage, editorial director for DaySpring, author of Rain on Me, wife of Mark, lover of Jesus, friend to YOU.

Visit Holley at Heart to Heart with Holley or follow her on twitter as @HolleyGerth.

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A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year’s Day.
Leave a comment on this post or any of the following 12 Pearls of Christmas posts to be entered to win a THREE STRAND PEARL NECKLACE!
 
The winner will be announced on New Year’s Day! Pearls – a tangible reminder of God’s grace to us all.

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit pearlgirls.info

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