Reflecting on 2009

I'm not sure if you all do this, but for some reason when the new year is coming up I end up spending more time reflecting on the past year. I've been thinking of all the good things, and bad things that went on in 2009, and am amazed at how Christ has worked in my life, especially when I think of where I was this time one year ago. Below is a poem I wrote to share with you all:

Looking back at this past year I had some guilt and regret.
But truly understand God’s grace when we repent.
Times when I was close with the Lord and all was well,
And times I turned from Him and see where I had failed.

Looking back at this past year what I know is true,
Is that God sent His Son, so that we may be made new.
Humbled I am by His mercy and love,
Grateful for the good times and bad times,
So that I can be closer to the Man above.

Looking back at this past year of 2009,
I see that God’s plan for me is so much greater than mine.

Looking forward to 2010, I make my New Year’s Resolution
To grow closer to Him with even more acceleration.
To trust and obey, letting Him lead the way.
To be a light, and do what is right.
I will not just give up something or just try and lose a few pounds,
But I will share God’s truth with everyone I am around.

No more looking back...

Happy New Year!

These are the words I would say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fpKwja0j50

City on our knees:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpPgdCr1j3s

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

Serve One Another in Love.

The Porch is on break until January 19th, 2010, but I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas & share with you something that is on my heart for this holiday season.

“What you believe affects your behavior.” -JP

This weekend I went visit my Mamaw and Aunt Marilyn who live together in Louisiana, and to bring them their Christmas presents from my family. I wasn’t looking forward to the 5 hour drive, but once I got there it was all worth it. Since I have been walking with Christ everything has changed, including how I act when I am a guest at someone’s home. My Mamaw, who is very weak, and Aunt Marilyn were spending most of the weekend in the kitchen cooking for the rest of the family, and preparing for their Christmas celebration on Sunday. I quickly dove in to help, stirring the pots, washing dishes, even dusting their fans that needed it badly. Every time they told me to stop, I said “No, I want to help.” They shared with me that most of the time people just come, eat all the food, bring nothing, leave the mess for them to clean up, and aren’t grateful for all the time, effort, and not to mention the expenses they put into preparing for the celebration. I can’t explain how shocked, and extremely grateful they were for my help.

It got me thinking on the 5 hour drive back, and I wanted to encourage all of you. Not to serve like me, but to serve like Christ. Many, if not all of us, will be visiting friends, family, people in need, and maybe even some people we don’t absolutely love being around. Don’t just show up and let others serve you, be the hands and feet of Christ. Here are some ideas:

Offer to bring something and if they say no, bring something anyways.

Stir the pot… go to the store if they forgot something.

Help clean up trash, wash dishes, and if it’s your family and you feel comfortable even dust for them :)

Make your bed if you are staying at someone else’s home, or fold up the blankets used.

Be sure to say thank you, and even leave a thank you note, or mail one later.

When they ask why you are doing this, share your faith, share the Gospel, share Christ’s love for us all. Be the hands and feet of Christ this Christmas, not just with the needy, but with your loved ones too. If you are the one hosting people, serve with a joyful heart...out of love and thankfulness for our savior Jesus Christ.

“Jesus didn't "become flesh" so we could feel different. He came to this world so we will be different.”

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.-Matthew 20:28 & Mark 10:45

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.- Ephesians 6:7

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.- Galatians 5:13

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

Thinking About Christmas.

Some key verses that stood out last week:

Matthew 22:35-40, 1John 3:16-18, & Micah 6:8

Thinking about Christmas...

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I encourage you to read all of John 3.

As we continue preparing for Christmas let us remember why we are celebrating. This child is the only Son of God, sent to us that we may have eternal life. Because of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we can receive forgiveness, hope, mercy, grace, and salvation. Let us act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. Let us love others the way Christ has loved us.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Rejoice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJYW1oN6fw&feature=related

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

"I am the Lord's servant" -Mary

We heard one of my favorite verses last week, and one that I think of daily:

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.

I encourage you all to read Luke 1. I love Mary’s response in verse 38 to the angel Gabriel after he told her that even though she was a virgin she was to give birth to a son, and will name him Jesus…Son of the Most High:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Luke1:38

Praying that you all find (make) time to be still, listen, reflect, pray, and answer the way Mary did “I am the Lord’s servant”.

Song of the week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vTGuB-eQkA

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com

Matthew 1:18-25

You can’t help but think about Christmas coming up with all the shopping, music, tacky Christmas sweater invites, cool weather etc. The next couple weeks I’d like to take us back to what Christmas is really about, the birth of Jesus. I know we’ve heard about the birth of Christ many times, but take the time to really reflect on everyone involved in this story and how this birth directly affects you. Let’s start with Joseph in Matthew 1:18-25

The Birth of Jesus Christ
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Below is a link to one of my favorite songs. I encourage you to take a few minutes and check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBWYAQlQiBI

Praying for you all~

www.theporchdallas.com