Luke 2: 8-12

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

I think everyone's heard the story of Jesus' birth. Even some non-believers. It's almost Christmas, so I was thinking about that; the 'reason for the season'. :) I know without a doubt why we celebrate Christmas. And anyway, you can't spell Christmas without Christ. Now I don't believe in Santa Claus and I don't think reindeer can fly. But I know that a lot of people associate presents with Christmas. If you think about it, when Christ was born, God was setting things in motion for our eternal gift of life. So maybe it's true. But don't get so caught up in the holidays that you forget what Christmas is all about. Be with your families, celebrate and have fun, but remember who's birthday your celebrating. :)


In other news, something that has nothing to do with the verse or this blog or anything, I got contacts. :) No more glasses. haha oh and tomorrow is Christmas Eve, so check out the Christmas Eve Services tomorrow night at C3 Church in Clayton!

Merry Christmas,
-Lauren

Psalm 4:5

Psalm 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,And put your trust in the LORD

We're supposed to trust God in everything, true? Psalm 4:5 tells us this, and countless times throughout the bible, God uses the word trust. In fact, if you look up the word "trust" on biblegateway.com (which by the way is an awesome site) you will find 181 verses in the New King James Version. 188 in the KJV. That should tell us something, right? And yet, so many times we worry. This is a huge thing for me, because I constantly worry about everything. If you look up that same verse, Psalm 4:5, in the Message, it says this: Complain if you must, but don't lash out, Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for his verdict. So, really it just says that God is in control, which I hope all of us know.

I know that, without a doubt, but I still worry. So I can't tell you how to stop worrying completely, but I can tell you that memorizing that verse might help. Then whenever you start worrying or forget to trust God, just say that verse. (I'm really saying this to myself, but ya'll try it too.)So that was just something I was thinking about and I really wanted to update the blog. It seemed to fit, especially with economy the way it is, and Christmas coming up. And personally, trusting God is something I gotta work on. Anyway, thanks again for reading this. :)

Leviticus 22:29

Leviticus 22:29- And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free will.

Thanksgiving. I'm sure everyone had a great time on Thursday. I know I did. :) I have so much to be thankful for, more so every day it seems. Amazing friends, and incredible family, a church that feels like home... I spent Thanksgiving in my grandparents' cabin in GA. My dad's side of the family, like every year, got together for the special holiday. It's funny, the verse I put in this post, it's very much true for myself. I have trouble with sacrifice I think. I'd rather have things go my way, without having to give up anything. I'm not very good with sacrificing things, and it's not always free will. Haha but I'm working on it. :) So that's all I really have to say.

Remember to think about your attitude toward things.
God bless all of you! :)

Psalm 86:12

Psalm 86:12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,And I will glorify Your name forevermore...

I have a lot to praise God for. More than a lot of people right now. And yet, I still worry, or I wish for more. I've got a problem with my hearing right now, haven't gone to the doctor yet, but I'm hoping to this week. Preferable before Thanksgiving. I'm pretty much not hearing anything on the left. I was praying "God, please don't let this happen," and "God, please let me hear right," without thinking about the people who can't hear at all. I get pretty selfish when it comes to health and stuff. And I think many people can get into this mode where they think only about themselves.

You have to think of the people who have less than you. There's always someone with less. I have to learn to praise God in everything. To praise him in every storm. If I was going blind and deaf with no hope of seeing or hearing anything ever again, I should still praise him that I am alive. So I hope I can learn this, and humble myself, because it's not about me. It's all for God.

Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...

I think the world can impact us if we're not careful. I'm pretty sure it's impacted me once or twice. But it says right there, right in scripture that we are to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJ) says For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I think I've pretty much left the bible out of my life for a long time, and I know I don't spend very much time reading it. But, and I'm only guessing here as I am so not a pastor or even close, I'm pretty sure that is Romans when it says "the renewing of your mind", I'm thinking that means reading the bible. Now, like I said I'm only guessing at this, but it seems to me like that would be the perfect way to renew your mind, and not only that but your heart. I mean, think about it; reading the Word that God wrote, that was given to us by God, that has every answer one needs in life (because it really is a life handbook), I'm pretty sure I'm renewing something. The way I look at things? Now remember, I said this is just how I'm interpreting what I'm reading so don't take anything I say too seriously.

I'm only the granddaughter of a pastor, it's not like I study it. :)

So maybe I'm just reading it wrong or maybe I am right, but either way, it doesn't seem like a bad idea to actually start reading God's Word. I mean it's not like he gave it to certain people. So, yes, until now I haven't spent very much time in the Bible, but I plan to change that. I hear that John is a good place to start? Lemme know, kay?

- Lauren :)