Be Exalted O God

O God, be Thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth's tresures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses, I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee. Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, "Hosanna in the highest." Amen.

The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer

Crazy about Christmas

Remember Them. Honor Them.

This Christmas... remember those who will not be with their families...because they stand watch to protect our families and our freedom.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,

"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl' on a day in December,

"Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas Gram always remembers.

"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.

Who stand at the front against any and all,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN

30th Naval Construction Regiment

OIC, Logistics Cell One

Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Going to Africa

For. Real.

I am overwhelmed by God's goodness!

Pastor Jackson Senyonga and his wife Eve, founders of Christian Life Ministries, have invited us to Uganda! We are blessed by this opportunity.

We will get to hug and love on the children we have sponsored through their ministry. We will visit orphan homes. We will attend an all night prayer service, that I am certain will be a powerful experience. We will see Africa!

We are leaving at the end of this month. For. Real.

Although this has happened so quickly... and I am afraid of missing a detail... worried that I won't get everything done. I know... God doesn't miss ANY detail. I WILL trust in Him.

We ask for your prayers... that we will be used to bless His kingdom, that we will be faithful to accomplish His purposes!

For. Real.

12 Days of Christmas

"A cappella" never sounded so good! AND they're funny!




Thank you fellow bloggers for sharing such treats! :)

Change...

It's that most wonderful time of year... Christmas. The celebration of our beautiful Savior's birth. A time to rejoice in Him.

I find my heart is not in the same place it usually is this time of year...

Normally, I would be asking the children for their wish lists... I would be searching for those gifts that would be special to them... that would make their precious faces light up with excitement. I want to do just that...

But... I find myself not wanting to buy more "stuff"... we don't NEED anything... praise God!

Instead... what if I can purchase something that would benefit someone else? That would give back in some way? Now that! I would love to do!

Christmas is the celebration of His birthday... Shouldn't we give in a way that will bless Him? In a way that will take our eyes off the material "stuff" and help us focus on making whatever we give bring glory to Him.

As I search for gifts for my family... what I want to do more than anything... is to have each one remember Him... it's not about US.

It is all about JESUS.

What better way to convey that message is there... than to give gifts that give hope.

As you search for gifts for loved ones, please check out Suubi. I am blessed by this young couple's desire to do something that will make a difference in people's lives... something that will "spread".

There are so many ways to give, while giving more. Junkposse, Land of a Thousand Hills, the list goes on! There are children to be sponsored through Christian Life Ministries and Katie's kids need sponsors as well.

I am ready... are you ready? To change... to quit the status quo Christmas gift giving frenzy of "stuff"... and to give gifts that will make a difference... for Jesus.

Enter the Story