I'm Not A Scaredy Cat

Is your child afraid of the dark? Does he cower in fear at strange noises and situations? Most young children do, but even if he doesn’t, this book will teach him that God is always near, and he can trust Him in everything. This lovely hardcover book with its colorful illustrations and funny little verses will delight the hearts of children everywhere while teaching them to face their fears. Written by Max Lucado, I’m Not A Scaredy Cat features a little prayer that a child can easily learn.

“God, you are good.
God, you are near.
God, you are here!
And, God, you love me.”

With Christmas just around the corner, this book will make a perfect gift for your son or daughter.

You can win a copy of this cute little book when you enter the exciting giveaway. Just click on this link: http://www.blessedfreebies.com/im-not-a-scaredy-cat.html


To purchase the book, go here - http://www.tommynelson.com/scaredy-cat-presale/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9afOBRDWARIsAJW4nvyhUMaRV9fup6aZDXkSQHy9pBm4c1BVi2ZyCA3W3Sm6oEdvCdC9958aAsE2EALw_wcB

Let It Go

Mary Magdalene (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

During this festive season, many of us will gather with friends and families to share delightful meals, laughter and conversation. But for others, memories of the past may arise to haunt you and make you shun these gatherings. You may be thinking of what someone said to you, how they talked to or about you, how they treated you and if you focus on these things, you could have a truly miserable holiday season.

Don't let it happen to you. Christmas is a time of joy as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever someone said or did to you is not important to ruin your happiness over. Let it go! Give it to Jesus! He came to earth so we can have peace, and this is why He is called the Prince of Peace.

The Bible tells of a lady named Mary Magdalene. She is the only lady in the Bible who is always called by her first and last name. This, I believe, is not only to distinguish her from the other Marys in the Bible, but to make sure everyone knows that she is the Mary who was possessed with seven devils.

But after Jesus healed her, Mary Magdalene did not allow her past affliction to keep her from following Jesus. When Jesus was on the cross, she was right there with the other women (Matthew 27: 56). She waited until Jesus' body was placed in the tomb and the next day she and another Mary returned to embalm the body. And this is where Mary Magdalene received her greatest honor. Jesus appeared to her and said, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."  Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God' " (John 20: 15 - 17). 

The apostle Paul said, "...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3 : 13 - 14). If Mary Magdalene had allowed her past to stand in her way, she would not have received the prize of being the first person to see the risen Jesus and to spread the good news. Her name might not have been recorded in Biblical history. So, what stands between you and your prize? Is it something in your past? Are you still hurting about what others said or did to you? This Christmas give yourself the gift of letting go. Lay it at the bottom of the cross and watch Jesus wash it away in His precious blood.

Related articles

• Jesus' Appearance after His Resurrection
• Mary Magdalene
• Jesus' resurrection: What really happened?
• The Reward

This Is Christmas

"This is Christmas

not the tinsel, 

not the giving and receiving,

not even the carols, 

but the humble heart

that receives anew

the wondrous gift, the Christ."

- Frank McKibben

This Christmas let us open our hearts to receive God's unspeakable gift, and once we have received it, let us share it with others so that they too "May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3 : 18 - 19). 

Merry Christmas

 

 

Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me

Mother's Day has just passed and soon it will be Father's Day, so I thought I would stick with the family theme until next month. We haven't yet begun to celebrate children's day, maybe because everyday is children's day. I think I hear mothers everywhere agreeing. When it comes to topics dealing with children the choices are as numerous as our imagination would allow. So, for the next three weeks I'd like to focus on three areas - how should children be treated? What is their role in the family? What does the Bible have to say about children? Today I bring you the first part.

What Kind Of Love is This

Free Twitter Backgrounds

Today is the much celebrated Valentine's Day, a day that has its roots in Roman mythology. But love itself is no myth. Love is real and it does exist. Today also coincides with the Chinese New Year, which is also marked by the giving of gifts. Valentine's Day which first began, according to legend, with a jailed Catholic priest sending a love note to his lover, has now grown into a highly commercialized event.

In the days leading up to February 14, merchants do a brisk trade in chocolates, flowers, cards and other items, all designed to communicate feelings of love. Gifts will be exchanged, and this is all well and good. For me, if Valentine's Day and chocolates go hand in hand, then I would wish everyday was Valentine's Day. But whatever the gift, the sentiment behind it is what counts.

Which brings me to one of the meanings that Webster dictionary gives for the word 'love.' It is the 'unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the well being of another; the fatherly love of God for humankind.' And God showed His 'unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern' for us by giving His best gift - His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us(Romans 5:8) NIV.

Note carefully, while we were still sinners. The Bible does not say after we had repented, or after we came to love God. It says while we were still sinners. When we cared nothing about Him, when we didn't know He existed, while we were still dead in our sin, God loved us so much that He sent His son into the world to die for us.

Today, Valentine's Day, lovers will look to each other for gifts. We would hardly give a gift to someone who has been mean to us, or someone who is unaware of our existence. And when we give, we usually expect something in return. But all God wants is to save us from hell and destruction. His is agape love, the 'unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern' for our good.

And He doesn't ask for anything in return. Only that we accept His gift - beautifully wrapped in the person of His beloved Son Jesus Christ. If we accept, we get to go to the lavish banquet He's throwing one day in heaven, and live with Him in eternity. His is the gift that keeps on giving. Will you accept? Say 'yes' today.

God Is Good All The Time

I was talking to someone the other night about the way things have changed for me financially over the years. I told him there was a time when I never thought about money because I always had more than enough. I concluded, "But God is still good." He replied, "No, He's not always good, because if He was, you would still be seeing His goodness."

Shocked by the response from this Christian young man, I felt the need to clarify what the goodness of God really means. Pointing to the overhead light, I said, "See this light? We are standing under it and we can see its brightness. But if we move to the other room where there is no light, this one becomes dim. The further away we move from it, the dimmer it gets until we may not see it at all even though it's still shining as brightly as before. God is like that. He never changes. He shines brightly all the time, but if we move away from Him, we cannot see His brightness or His goodness."

I also hastened to reassure him that there is a lot more to God's goodness than financial prosperity. Because I am not as well off financially as I once was, it doesn't mean that I'm not experiencing God's goodness. I feel closer to Him than I did then and I'm secure in the knowledge that no matter what happens He will take care of me.

Later, as I reflected on that conversation, the Holy Spirit laid a piece of scripture on my mind: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1: 17). God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Yes, He is good. All the time.