''THE FIRST CHRISTMAS"

By: Donna Selma Lind

When you hear the words "THE FIRST CHRISTMAS" what do you think of?  Of course we think of  the day our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born. The day when Mary and Joseph wished they had booked a room in advance with the TRAVELOCITY GNOME! 

After traveling for days through the desert on the back of a donkey, teenager Mary who was nine months pregnant and her carpenter husband Joseph got bumped into the only room available, a Stable full of  stinky animals. The FIRST CHRISTMAS took place in a Barn with a feeding trough manger substituting as a crib for Baby Jesus.

Mary wrapped her newborn baby in swaddling cloths and laid him in that manger. 

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:14

And every year since that FIRST CHRISTMAS we celebrate in honor of Jesus Christ, born in a humble stable in Bethlehem. Light of the world who came to take away our sins. 

We celebrate the Savior who came to save us and give us his indescribable gift of eternal life. And because of, his love, mercy and grace, he took our place, shed his blood and Gave His life for us.  

THANK YOU JESUS ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! WE LOVE YOU!

Now I would like to talk to you about a different kind of FIRST CHRISTMAS. 

For many of us this will be The FIRST CHRISTMAS. 

The FIRST CHRISTMAS of one kind or another.

You may be facing a difficult and challenging or a wonderful FIRST CHRISTMAS!

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS:

Since your loved one Died.

Since you got Married.

Since you got Divorced.

Since you lost your Job.

Since you had a bad health  Diagnosis.

Since you had a good health Report.

Since you Moved to a new place.

Since you had a Baby.

Since you lost a Baby.

Since you Retired.

Since you or a loved one are home from the Military or War.

(THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!)

Since you were Hurt, Cheated on or Betrayed.

Since you or they are an Addict.

Since you've been Clean & Sober.

Since you are an Empty Nester.

Since you were Abused.

Since your Parents or Spouse had to go in a Nursing Home.

Since the Tragedy .

Since you Graduated.

 Since the Accident.

Since you lost your pet.

Since the Financial loss.

Since your loved one is in Prison.

Since you began following Christ.

Since _____________________________________________________

THE FIRST CHRISTMAS when your life seems to be missing something or someone. 

Whether you are starting over brand new or ending something old. 

You will get through this! You are going to make it! You are going to be okay! You are not alone! The Lord is right by your side. Emmanuel, God is with you! 

Whatever your FIRST CHRISTMAS is I pray you will be Blessed and that you will count your Blessings! 

I pray that you will experience the Love and Peace of God like never before! 

I pray that you will take time to Give of yourself the way that God has given to you. 

No matter what this FIRST CHRISTMAS looks like for you, you can follow the example of our Heavenly Father.

"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." John 3:16

GIVE. 

GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS!

AND THEN SHARE YOUR HEART AND THE GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS!

HALLELUJAH!  PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind 

🙋

Please share your thoughts with me in the "comments"section  by clicking below on the 

"HALLELUJAH HERALD"link, this will take you to the Full website page where you will have access to all my posts as well as the ability to comment on whatever "The FIRST CHRISTMAS" means for you.

Maybe you can help bless someone else by sharing your "FIRST CHRISTMAS." 👇 

"GIVE ME A BREAK!"

By: Donna Selma Lind

GIVE ME A BREAK! No, really. GIVE ME A BREAK! Sometimes I just need a break!
Do you know what I am talking about? It's like I go, go, go and give, give, give till I'm on empty and I have nothing left. I'm spent, shot,wiped, overdrawn, burned out, tapped,bushed, wasted, tuckered, drained, done in and worn out! Are you getting the picture? GIVE ME A BREAK!

I admit I have a history of pushing myself past the E for empty on my physical gas tank.
 I know I should stop and rest, BUT... and that's my problem, I HAVE A BIG BUT! ( for all of you who are pointing and laughing right now I only used one "t"in But! :)
Yes, my BIG BUT always gets in the way! I'm going to stop cleaning and rest, BUT first I'm going to finish organizing this closet. I'm going to stop working in the garden, BUT before I quit I am going to weed one more row. I am going to take time to exercise today, BUT I have to vacuum and make some phone calls first. My BIG BUT is always getting in the way of my taking time to rest and relax, so I go until I hit the wall and then it takes me a lot longer time to re-coup! Is there anybody else out there that has a BIG BUT that gets in the way of taking a break and enjoying a little R & R?

For me it started when I was a kid, always an overachieving working bee. Never wanting to appear lazy. I enjoyed working hard for what I had and nobody ever gave me anything that I didn't earn or work for.That is all fine and dandy but if not balanced out with rest and fun, it is only a matter of time before we, I crash and burn.

Even Jesus took breaks. Jesus stopped and rested. Jesus got away from the crowds. Jesus took walks along the shores of Galilee and retreated to the garden, he went fishing, he took a nap in a boat.
I imagine there were times when even Jesus thought to himself; GIVE ME A BREAK! 
(paraphrasing of course)

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."

Genesis 2:2 "On the seventh day, he rested from all his work."

Mark 6:31 " Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

Exodus 33:14 The Lord replied "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Psalm 23 "He refreshes my soul."

Psalm 62:1 "Truly my soul finds rest in God."

No BUT'S about it! The Lord offers us rest and restoration throughout His Word.
So before our BUT'S get any bigger let's stop and take a break!

STEP AWAY FROM THE WORK! 
STEP AWAY FROM THE STRIVING! 
STEP AWAY FROM THE BUSYNESS! 

Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him."

SLOW ME DOWN LORD 
by: Wilifred A. Peterson

Slow me down Lord!
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills....

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations- of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from the good book....

Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

                                                        GIVE ME A BREAK!

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind 

If these words have touched your heart please leave me a comment below . I would love for you to  share your thoughts with me. Thanks and Blessings! 💓

 

" DON'T GET YOUR UNDIES IN A BUNCH! "

By: Donna Selma Lind

DON'T GET YOUR UNDIES IN A BUNCH!

Can we talk? Can we talk about Anger Issues?

Do you ever have a problem with controlling your temper?

Have you ever been so irritated by someone that you felt like smacking them silly? Oh, don't get all "Holly Holy"on me now because you know you have, even if you don't want to admit it.

"For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God."Romans 3:23

For most of my life I had a problem with Anger. I didn't know how to express or vent my anger because I was conditioned as a child to keep my emotions in. This continued throughout my first marriage which was very unhealthy for me because I was in an abusive marriage.

I stuffed my anger for over forty years and when I finally was free to express my anger it was explosive and caustic because I wasn't trained on how to control it. Once I let that anger loose I walked around with my undies in a bunch until I wasn't the only one irritated and uncomfortable!

"Anger is a universal, basic,normal unavoidable reaction of displeasure. It usually involves a significant portion of misunderstanding and has it's roots in our own unmet expectations." 

Paul Hegstrom

"Anger is a secondary emotion. It is a warning sign and an alarm to a primary emotion such as Fear, Hurt or Frustration."  

Gary Oliver

WHY ARE YOU ANGRY? {Fear-Hurt or Frustration?}

A - ANGER

N - NOT CONTROLLED

G - GERMINATES

E - EMOTIONAL

R - REACTIONS OF RAGE

Get a grip on Anger before it gets a grip on you!

IDENTIFY YOUR ANGER PERSONALITY

 When the heat is on in the kitchen are you a?

*CROCK POT- Stuff it all in savor and stew on it slow and steady.

*PRESSURE COOKER- Pressure builds up, then explodes!

*MICROWAVE- Heats up fast. Quick tempered. Always ready for a fight!

  RECIPE FOR ANGER :

*What are your parents Anger personalities?

*Were you allowed to express your emotions as a child? How?

*What made you angry as a child? What makes you angry now?

*Who pushes your buttons? Why?

*How do you express your anger now?

*Have you ever hurt someone because of your anger?      

Do you think now is a good time to apologize?

 NO MATTER HOW UPSET OR ANGRY WE ARE GOD GIVES US ANSWERS AND HELP ON HOW TO CONTROL AND OVERCOME ANGER.

"Be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to become angry, for mans anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20

"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." Ephesians 4:26

"Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11

LET'S GET COOKING WITH NEW INGREDIENTS

1) TIME OUT- Take a break. Walk away. Cool Off.

2) TALK TO GOD- Pray. Quiet down. Breathe.Bless and Forgive.

3) TEMPER TRIGGERS- ID the cause: Hurt, Frustration, Fear?

4) TAME IT- Self control. Journal.Walk. Exercise. Yard work. House work. Call a friend.

5) TURN IT AROUND- What's my part? Share responsibility.

6) TRY AGAIN- Come back: Listen. Don't Blame. Open heart.Soft voice. Focus on a solution, not the problem.

 RECIPE SWAP : 

REPLACE ANGER WITH THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT! 

"Love, joy, peace,patience, kindness,goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and SELF CONTROL."Galatians 5:22

"Anger is one letter short of danger." Eleanor Roosevelt

 Get a grip on your anger issues, before they get a grip on you and you hurt the ones you love!

SHARE THIS BLOG WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE OR SOMEONE YOU DON'T LOVE OR SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE YOU ANGRY! ;-)

KEEP CALM AND DON'T GET YOUR UNDIES IN A BUNCH!

HALLELUJAH! 

PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind