Lighthearted ~ a word from the Lord

If we could lighten up some right about now, we’d all be better off.

I stood at the pumps, and it was one of those that gave a word for the day with its definition on a small screen. Today the word was lighthearted. In my spirit, I heard the Holy Spirit telling me, ‘That’s My Word for you. Only ponder the biblical aspects of lighthearted’. This verse immediately came to mind:

²⁸ “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-20 [New American Standard Bible, NASB]

Then I thought of the Hebrew word Chesed that Brother Kenneth Copeland and D.Min. Greg Stephens have been teaching and insisting believers should walk in for their own benefit, the benefit of others, and ultimately to please God. Chesed? (You actually pronounce the first two letters as if you were bringing up flem, but in American English the “C” is silent) What is the Hebrew meaning?

• kindness or love expressed between people
• the devotional piety of people expressed towards God
• The love or mercy of God expressed towards humanity, the refusal by God to wash His hands of wayward, lost people

Right now in the world there is an absence of lightness of spirit. People all over the world are burdened, fearful, and depressed for a myriad of reasons. But Chesed, God’s loving-kindness His tenderheartedness, His joy, His peace doesn’t depend on circumstances. We can be in the midst of a global pandemic, in political turmoil, social unrest, economic distress and still walk in God’s Chesed…His peace, mercy, love, and lightheartedness. In the midst, we can love others intensely. Our hearts (inner being) can become lighter, not emotionally and psychologically dependent upon world circumstances. Actually, right now it’s imperative that we walk in God’s Chesed…for our sanity’s sake. We can find the humor in crazy circumstances instead of letting the circumstances drive us crazy. We are made in the image and likeness of God. If we have many ways to demonstrate a sense of humor, that would indicate that God has a wonderful sense of humor. Also He made us, and that’s pretty funny.

Then another verse came to me, and in my opinion, here Jesus is not talking about heaven. He’s talking about what type of life can be available to believers here on earth. And I think it has everything to do with walking and having our being in Chesed.

³ and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. ~ Matthew 18:3 [New American Standard Bible, NASB]

Then another verse popped up inside me.

³⁵ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” ~ Matthew 22: 35-40, New English Version [NEV]

What Is Christmas ~ all about?

 

 

 

Believers are the product of Christmas. We came from Him, from His bloodline. ~

Merry Christmas to one and all. The idea/concept of a merry Christmas season is something that delights my heart. And so much of Christmas is about this to me. Actually, so much of life is about this to me. Perhaps that’s because I’ve had so many things happen to me designed to steal my happiness and rob my joy. So, I’ve made a study of being merry and of good cheer and I’m striving to invite these two spirits into my thinking and being more and more each day.

Merry is actually a Bible word. Merry appears 28 times in the King James Version of the Bible. Merrily, once and Merryhearted, once. Cheer, ten time (eight of them ‘be of good cheer’). Cheerful, four times. Cheereth, Cheerfully, Cheefulness, each once.

So why is a merry/cheerful spirit or attitude associated with the Christmas season which begins with Advent on the fourth Sunday in November and ends on December 24th? First of all, Christmas means the celebration of the Christ, or of the Christ’s coming. In Roman Catholic Church, and in the Western Rite Orthodox churches, the Old Catholic churches, Eastern Catholic churches, some Lutheran churches, as well as in some Anglican churches the Mass is celebrated. The word Mass itself means ‘sent’, or in the case of Jesus ‘the One Who was sent’. We celebrate The One Who Was Sent in this Christmas season, the One who taught us about freedom of the spirit. That, in Him, we could be free. That in and of itself brings on a feeling of merriment, delight and good cheer. There is a place where we can be free from this world’s strife, rage, and hate and that place is in Jesus.

Wow! That’s what Christmas is all about. The celebration of the coming of the Christ. Jesus Christ. Christ isn’t Jesus’ last name. It’s more accurately stated Jesus the Christ. Christ means the Anointed One but it’s more than a title. It’s who He is, His very being, the Son of God in the flesh. He came to us as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem, entrusted to the care and protection of Joseph and Mary. He suckled at Mary’s breast like every other baby.

During this season, from time-to-time, almost every person thinks of Him as a baby…has that concept in their heads. For many that brings on a warm feeling. Joy. Gentleness. Kindness. Happiness. a Merry heart, and Good Cheer. Many of us want to help someone else, give to the less fortunate, share of our abundance.

Sharing with others makes us feel good. It’s the evidence of our prosperity. Yes, prosperity! Even if we only have a little, if we share some of it that is an act of prosperity. Christian prosperity starts with inner prosperity, the prosperity of the soul. That is something that should bring good cheer to our lives. Of course, the Bible teaches in many places, that it’s God’s will that we should prosper materially as well, that we should have enough, and that God is our source of enough.

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. ~ 3 John 1:2 [New American Standard Bible, NASB]

And that is my Christmas wish for you all. That you would come to know Him and that you would prosper in all ways and be in good health, as your soul prospers…and that you will enjoy prospering in your soul and be merry, cheerful, and that you would laugh a lot. Merry Christmas.

My two Christmas season novels are ACTS OF MALICE and BLOOD SPEAKS.

Major Cookie Company Says,”cookie shortage for Christmas” ~ so make your own!

Gather the family, friends together in the kitchen to bake cookies ~

So, Pepperidge Farms, the largest cookie manufacturer has announced to the media, they will most likely have a cookie shortage this Christmas 2020. Don’t despair. Really, don’t. This is an opportunity, a time to look forward to fun. A time to make merry. Bake your own cookies for Christmas.

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. ~ Proverbs 17:22 [New King James Version]

Everyone loves Snickerdoodles. They’re cinnamony and sugary and just right for Christmas. They’re perfect for a family and friends Christmas baking experience, especially with children. This is an easy, ‘no fail’ Snickerdoodles recipe even the most ‘baking challenged’ among us can handle. Get your family and friends together and have a ‘Snickerdoodles Christma Baking Party’, then eat them…perhaps with eggnog or hot apple cider. Don’t fore get to leave a few for Santa!!! LOL

Easy Snickerdoodles

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
1 C butter or margarine (2 sticks)
1 1/2 sugar
2 3/4 C all-purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar (the secret ingredient)
1 tsp baking sod
1/2 tsp salt
Make cinnamon sugar (2 Tbsp sugar to every 1 tsp powdered cinnamon)

1. Let butter or margarine come to room temperature. In a medium or large bowl cream the butter or margarine, add beaten eggs and stir well until smooth. Sift in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, salt. Stir until completely combined.

2. Shape into 1 inch balls. Roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture twice to get them well coated.

3. Place the balls 2 inches apart (they will flatten and need space) on a baking sheet well coated with cooking/baking pan spray.

4. Bake at 400 degrees fir 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove cookies to a wire rack to cool. If you don't have a wire rack, remove to a plate to cool. You may have more cookie dough. Then repeat steps 3 and 4.

 

If it’s not a perfectly formed ball, that’s okay. The point is to have fun. It will taste great anyway. So, you’re NOT a baker? So, what? Don’t be hyper-self critical. Make merry in this Christmas season, and be of good cheer.

**Such a good Scripture for this Christmas season threatened with world-wide Covid lockdowns and political unrest.

“…These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33 [New King James Version]

 

 

 

 

 

“Ronnie’s” and her bridesmaids’ shopping is derailed in a winter wonderland setting where they sample hot apple cider and all kinds of delectable treats. However, they must survive lies and treachery. #Christmas themes, classic #murdermystery #wedding BLOOD SPEAKS #femalePI #inspy http://amzn.to/2kcOyjX