The Worship Before Christmas

 written two years ago and shared with Friendship Community Church ...

Twas the Worship before Christmas when all through God's House
All the creatures were stirring; yes, even a mouse.
All supplications were placed at the altar with care
in hopes that the Holy Spirit would answer them there.
The saints were all nestled, hope on each face;
the comfort of angels was filling the place.
And the Pastor with his Bible and his wife in her ware
had just settled down for a long time of prayer
The Spirit how He tarried! His presence how merry!
His comfort was like balm in a world grown so wary.
His gifts He distributed to each little soul
and the truth He conveyed with salvation goal.
New life was given to each who believed,
knowing it was on a cross this achieved.
He spread through the congregation now whole,
leaving every heart light and aglow,
ready to depart and wanting to the world convey
Christ our salvation was born Christmas Day!

By ShelleyRenee Norman 2010

Hiding on the prodigal road

Sometimes we want to avoid what we should hear/do, so we stay away from the ones who will give us truth because we don't want to deal with/acknowledge it.

It's like that with God too, we'll withdraw from where we'll hear from Him. Don't do the Adam 'hide' avoiding His house, His people, His Word. The 'prodigal' road is deceptive and lonely.

“Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” Psalm 139:7

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" James 4:8.

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 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 3:17-19

collector of coal - blessings for a wintry heart

If you act unpleasantly I will not emulate it; I will not return it in kind, nor it collect or recollect. I make it of no consequence and instead extend one I would have preferred with a smile,
praying it warms your heart.
And then I will smile all the more, for by this process therein will be created burning coals.
But, if you rather extend a behavior pleasant to partake of, I will make it my own and give it away generously
and be blessed all the more.

~a coal miner's blessing~  'collector of coal - blessings for a wintry heart' ~SRNorman Proverbs 25:20-22

Are YOU Ready for Christmas?

Christmas is Here ...! So, ARE you ready for Christmas? It seems like before Halloween ebbs, tossing Thanksgiving by the wayside, people begin asking 'Are you ready for Christmas?' - have you completed your regimen for the day of celebration by buying and wrapping gifts; putting up trees, lights, and decorations; purchasing and preparing the meal; and acquiring the garb and other machinations for the day ... whew!

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, 
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. ^{1 Pet3:4}

The season of Advent looks to the coming of Christ, His second coming, with all the thankfulness, joy, and anticipation of understanding the fulfillment of the first coming. So, really, are YOU ready? Have you wholly given yourself to Him? ^Lk10:27 Have you abandoned this world as a home and made ready for your heavenly one? ^{Mk10:21, Mt6:19} Have you prepared everyone you could to have the opportunity to join you? ^Mt28:19

Christmas Day is yet to come! But as no one knows the day or the hour ^Mk13:32, we should be ready now. Be ready today! If you are ready, CELEBRATE! Jesus is coming again! Amen.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also^{. Jn 14:2-3}

Occupy Christmas in your hearts every day, now into eternity!

thoughts for the sojourn ...

We are sojourners.
Called to swim not tread water or merely stay afloat
Called to His purpose
Sanctification

Perfecting ...

His thoughts not our thoughts
Not the natural but the supernatural
Not the norm but the peculiar

Those who will leave and cleave
Those who will be salt not become salt
Those who will be light not cast shadows

Those who will glorify Him not them
Those who want His power for His not theirs

Those who listen for His voice not hear their own

Those who won't travel with extra baggage but trust His burden is light and His provision is right
Those who are not looking to God's blessings but blessing God

Those who put on Christ
That drink His water and not the world's
 those who are discerning not looking/taking surface things but the deeper things of the Spirit.

Dear Dekker ...

Dear Dekker (hopefully you don't mind the reference),

After completing the intrigue of Thr3e, I just finished Chosen and I'm still marveling over the delightful bend off the regular sense of your novels. I have become a voracious fan, but this was the first time down this avenue. I must complete this set as well as the Paradise one I started with Saint.

I was immediately captivated by Chosen's cast of characters and Biblical imagery that challenged, and I think in any partaker, the call, response, and role each of us has. It equally causes consideration of the depth of one's faith. But mostly it made a lasting impression on me about the danger of drifting from the constant daily restoration of the Living Water. It clearly reflected the scaling, dulling, and delusional disease that pervades our being in the lack of ongoing vitalization.

Because my son has the set of your graphic novels, he particularly enjoyed listening to the audiobook with me. He said his collection brought the Bible to life. What a wonderful way to portray these concepts to him. My son explained I need to join the 'Circle' and so I hope those to be next in my qeue.

I am now very tickled, as I have begun to delve into the sobering Showdown, to re-encounter the underworld of the worms and the icky goo. I love this cross-reference between sagas as I've admired in other authors like Robert Ludlum and Stephen King.

Thank you for your faith provoking stories that have mentally piqued myself, my youngest, and even my pastor husband who listens as he knows it de-stresses my mind to escape into your novels; I also have daughters who are fans. Thank God for giving you the gift; I'll keep absorbing the handiwork.

Which reminds me, due to my own miniscule auctorial pursuits, I enjoyed the mention about writing in Showdown.

"The four rules of writing...
1. Write to discover.
2. There is no greater discovery than love.
3. All love comes from the Creator.
4. Write what you will."

Blessings!

Check Mate

The chess board came to my mind, or any such similar effort because the statement was made 'I believe in God, but I am in control of my life'. On the one hand, you have me who at best can competently choose a path to achieve an end sidestepping, avoiding, and working my way through, if necessary, obstacles along my endeavor. I am even equipped to make judgements about the possibilities of what will likely occur and adjust appropriately.

On the other hand,  there is God (drum roll ... smile) who not only is the ace at accomplishing such a task of getting from point A to point B regardless of detriments, but He is fully packaged to know exactly what I will do, exactly what will happen, and exactly how it needs to resolve while allowing me the free will of putting forth my best. Actually this reminds me of the character Seth in Ted Dekker's novel Blink I just read, seeing all possibilities and choosing what works for the best. Bottom line ...Who's really in control?

Okay, the interaction is not as opponents, not challengers, nor gamers; endeavor? To overcome. Check Mate! I'm glad not just that God is my team mate, but moreso that I'm on His team!