A New Year's Glory

Good Morning! As this year comes to a close, many of us will be looking back at the year behind us and the looking ahead to the new year ahead of us. We think about what we would change, how we would change and then we resolve to make that change a lasting success. Some will resolve to excel at work, some to make more money, and some to lose more weight. And some will resolve to look to the LORD and trust Him in everything. The latter is where I want to focus today. I feel led to share Ecclesiastes 3:1-14, which is the passage that Pastor Ray preached on yesterday. I think this morning it is appropriate to look at these "mirrorisms." With the beginning of the new year and the end of the old year. The new year will be filled with many changes and seasons for all of us, and we need to remember that ALL of these things are in His incredibly capable hands!
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden(task) God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing can be taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

As this New Year begins, I pray that you would "set your hearts on things above" and know that He has you firmly in His grip! Happy New Year to you!

Friday's Morning Glory

Good Morning! There is a beautiful blanket of snow covering everything outside and the air is still and quiet. How peaceful it is! As this year is coming to a close, I reflect on all that these last twelve months held. There has been joy, sorrow, health, sickness, life and death. In all of these things the LORD has been utterly and completely faithful! What blessings, seen and unseen, He has bestowed on me. How Awesome is our God!! Take time in these next few days to focus on the blessings He has given to you, and thank Him for them. Spend a little time alone with Him, in the quiet, peaceful stillness of His presence.
"Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious harp and lyre."
Psalm 81:1-2

Thursday's Morning Glory

Good Thursday Morning to you! As the new year approaches, and I hear the news starting to amp up their coverage of the upcoming election, I think about the LORD's blessing on this country. I want to clarify that this isn't a political statement, its a faith statement. Our nation has become corrupt and detestable in the LORD's eyes. Not that I feel I can put word's in His mouth, please don't get me wrong. In reading these last few days about the Israelites and their behavior, I can't help but compare our nation to theirs. Look around, its not just the war on Christmas. The Pledge of Allegiance is under attack, marriage is under attack and ethics have gone completely out the window. Has His blessing been removed from our great nation? I believe it has. This nation used to be "the rule, not the exception," if you will. The LORD instructs us to respect and pray for our leaders and the government set up by them. So, no matter how you vote, please pray fervently for the new leader and our country. Pray that the LORD would guide this decision and restore favor to this nation.
"Restore us, O LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved."
Psalm 80:19

Wednesday's Morning Glory

Good Morning! I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas Day and that you felt the LORD's peace and joy fill your hearts and your homes. This last week, leading up to Christmas Day, I caught a number of conversations about the War on Christmas. Brian Williams did a segment on NBC Nightly news by that name. The segment discussed how political correctness is overtaking the public view of Christmas. Everything from city councils having to vote on whether or not to leave the Nativity outside of their building to calling the Christmas tree a "Holiday Tree." We have heard shopkeepers and sales staff say "Happy Holidays" for years now, I had to when I worked retail, and it is always refreshing to hear someone say "Merry Christmas!" My point in all of this is that the "world" will continue to take Christ out of Christmas, and as His followers we will become outnumbered and ridiculed for what we believe. This will be the case in every situation and season in life. But we have Hope, they do not. And it is up to us to share that Hope with them. Remember the children's song, "This Little Light of Mine?" Such wisdom in simple words!
"We are objects of reproach to our neighbors,
Of scorn and derision to those around us."
Psalm 79:4

A Christmas Glory

Good Morning to you all! I want to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas and I pray that the LORD would bless you and your families tomorrow and always. This morning I want to share with you the glory of Christmas from the book of John. Our Pastor preached on this passage a few weeks ago in preparation for Christmas and I feel it appropriate to share with you today, Christmas Eve.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men
might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,
the world did not recognize him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God---
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision
or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:1-14

Friday's Morning Glory

Good Morning!! Its Friday, the end of the week, and appropriately the end of
Psalm 78. Again, trying to process through it. Asaph illustrates how God transferred His favor from Joseph, the tribe of Ephraim and the sanctuary at Shiloh to Judah, because of their lack of faith and respect. He then chose another leader, a leader that no one expected. A leader who was a faithful servant and earned special favor in the eyes of the LORD. That leader was David, a shepherd boy who, trusting in the LORD, went up against a giant. Sometimes, God will use the least expected person to accomplish His greatest work. Do not underestimate how He is using you! You may feel like the child going up against a giant, but trust in Him and He will bring you to victory!
"He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;
from tending the sheep he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance.
And David shepherded them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them."
Psalm 78:70-72

Thursday's Morning Glory

Good morning to you! In trying to figure out what I would write this morning, as Psalm 78 is a lot to digest, I can't help but focus on God's mercy and grace. Today's section is verses 31-60 and again, Asaph points out all that the LORD did for the Israelites, and again they tested Him and turned their backs on Him. The LORD extended His mercy and grace over and over, and when His wrath came upon them, they turned to Him as their Rock. However, that was short lived. Think about mercy and grace. Mercy is not getting what we do deserve, and grace is getting what we don't deserve. How much do we deserve? Certainly, if left to our own understanding and will, we would deserve death. How wonderful it is to know that the Christ child we are focusing on right now came to take our punishment for us. That my friends, is true mercy and grace!
"Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return."
Psalm 78:38-39

Wednesday's Morning Glory

Good Morning to you on this beautiful day! As I started to read Psalm 78, I realized that I am going to need to spread it out over the next couple of days in order to get a better understanding of it. So, I decided that I will cover up to verse 30 today, if you wanted to read today's portion on your own.
Asaph begins by teaching about God's Law and passing on to future generations the miracles that the LORD performed for His people. He references the Children of Israel's flight from Egypt and their time in the desert. During that time, even though the LORD provided for them in miraculous ways, they continued to sin against Him and test Him. Yet, even though this angered God, He would not be driven away.
How many times in your life has the LORD revealed Himself to you in a big way and you demanded a little more proof? Has He pulled you out of a painful or stressful situation and moments later it was quickly forgotten? How many times do we challenge Him? How many times do we put Him in a box and only take Him out when He can benefit us or rescue us? He knows our sinful heart, yet nothing we could do will separate us from His love, mercy and grace.
"for they did not believe in God
or trust in his deliverance.
Yet he gave a command to the skies above
and opened the doors of the heavens."
Psalm 78:22-23

Tuesday's Morning Glory

Good Morning to you! I wanted to share this with everyone today instead of our Psalm. I will pick up with Psalm 78 tomorrow, enjoy!

I CORINTHIANS 13 - ADAPTED FOR CHRISTMAS

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child.Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband or wife.Love is kind, though harried and tired.Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Monday's Morning Glory

Good Monday morning to you! Think, today, about how incredibly special the "babe lying in a manger" is to us and for us. He was born for YOU!! He came to save YOU from certain death...that little baby, born in a stable. That little baby, the WORD made flesh, Son of God and Son of Man...all for you and me! The great LORD that Asaph describes in today's Psalm sent His One and Only Son to this earth to save us, poor and miserable sinners.
"You ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph."
Psalm 77:13-15

My Grandma

As I think about all the recipes I want to make for Christmas, I can't help but think of Christmas' past with all the goodies that my Grandma would make. Christmas was especially wonderful at her house. She past many of them on to my mom who has since past some of them on to us, my sisters and I, to carry on the tradition. I want to honor her this year as I make some of my favorite of her recipes. I miss her laugh and her wit. I love you Grandma!

Friday's Morning Glory

Good Morning to you this Friday! What a wonderful morning. Last night Meghan requested bacon and eggs for breakfast with orange juice. So, instead of the usual cereal in a hurry, we all sat down together and had our breakfast and prayed over the day. How precious time is with the ones you love. What a gift! As we prepare gifts for others in the next few weeks, think about what gift you will give to the LORD. What offering will be made to the One who has provided for all of our needs and given us the greatest gift of all?
"Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;
let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared."
Psalm 76:11

Thursday's Morning Glory

Good Morning to you! Have you been able to just sit and reflect upon this Christmas season? Have you taken the time to share with someone, believer or not, about the first Christmas? As we near our celebration of the birth of Christ, take the time to share the "Glad tidings of great joy" with someone. Even if just to remind yourself of the glory of this occasion.
"We give thanks to you, O God,
we give thanks, for your Name is near;
men tell of your wonderful deeds."
Psalm 75:1

Wednesday's Morning Glory

Good Morning! Let me say it again, Good Morning!! I suspect that many of you are starting to feel the pressures of the season as time starts flying by. Many, like myself, can easily feel overwhelmed with getting everything done. Shopping, baking, making, wrapping, cards, parties and decorations...not to mention keeping it all straight in our heads, what we have done and what we still need to do! When you start feeling like you are sinking and you can't come up for air, think on these verses and set your perspective to right. Take a deep breath and know that you weren't in control of it all in the first place!
"The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter."
Psalm 74:16-17

Why?

Welcome to my blog, Allie's Morning Glory! I want to give a little background about my Morning Glory ministry, if you don't already know. At the end of August of this year, the LORD started a new work in my heart that would require me to take a long hard look at myself and the condition of my heart. Well, His light revealed a judgemental heart and a need for me to learn how to extend His grace to others. He directed me to the book of Psalms and had me start a daily devotion on one Psalm each day. So, starting with the first chapter, I took the verses that the LORD pointed out to me and wrote my thoughts about it. It has become a weekday morning ritual for me and every time I think of quitting, someone expresses to me that what I wrote that day was just what they needed to hear. The LORD is faithful and quite certainly knows why He is having me do this. I pray that you will glean a little something from this and that the LORD would reveal Himself to you in a way you have never experienced before.

Tuesday's Morning Glory

Good Morning! In reading today's Psalm, I am compelled to share with you something that I am not proud of. Last night I allowed my frustration and my anger to get the better of me and I lashed out at my oldest daughter. I was not in the mood to deal with her lack of patience and when she threw a little attitude my way, I snapped. I screamed at her out of my own hurt and frustration and immediately felt ashamed. My youngest looked at me for a moment, and in her pure perception of the situation, asked me if I was sad. Yes, I was, incredibly sad. Before time slipped away, I apologized to Meghan and asked for her forgiveness. She immediately said "I forgive you, Mommy." UGHHH! What a shot to the heart, and the ego. How easy it is to fail, but difficult to acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness. Asaph talks about pride and envy and the way of the wicked, and how easily he could have fallen far into that world. But he continues on to set his thoughts back on the LORD and his focus where it should be.
"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into your glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds."
Psalm 73:21-28