Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

The three Bethlehem teaches us.

1. God keeps his promises

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.
Micah 5:2

2. God comes in person

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
Luke 2:1‭-‬7

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
Hebrews 4:15

3. God uses the least likely

Memory Verse

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:27‭-‬29

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inspiration

This man could sing the phone book

D. Scott Eads and the Swing Dolls

I am 100% serious when I say that this man could sing the phone book and I would buy a ticket! Every moment about my friend Scott’s show last night was phenomenal!  

That being said, the standout moments to me were:

  • We Need a little Christmas. That song took me back to junior high when I learned it for our first Christmas concert
  • Scott performed a beautifully sung version of Twas the night before Christmas
  • The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth, which was originally performed by Bing Crosby and David Bowie in 1977. Scott performed this with his friend Todd Murry
  • Lastly, the songs that he sang with a group of women called The Swing Dolls was amazing

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If you get the opportunity, you need to go see Scott. You will not be disappointed. This man could sing the phonebook, and I would buy a ticket to his show.

Marie Ncole Zimmerle

Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

When My World is Falling apart

Memory Verse

He sang: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
2 Samuel 22:2‭-‬4

The Five Steps we need to take when our world is falling apart

  • Reorient the disoriented. Stay in a routine
  • Call out to God. It’s a sign of a healthy relationship with him. He wants you to talk to him.
  • Recall the story of God. Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness by reading his word and by reflecting on the ways he’s been faithful to you.
  • Claim his promises
  • Contend by his power. God is our Father, not a 🧞 genie, so when we ask him for help, he might ask us to fight alongside him.

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

The Habit of Thanksgiving

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Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.” So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” So King Darius signed the law. But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.” Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.” So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
Daniel 6:1‭-‬16

The lessons we can learn from Daniel about talking to God.

Daniel’s prayer life was:

  • Unconditional
  • Committed
  • Consistent
  • Not hidden
  • Not flaunted

People around Daniel knew the commitment he had to God.

Ask yourself:

do the people around me know that I have a commitment to God?

Memory Verse

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Colossians 4:2

Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Happy Thanksgiving

Give Thanks in all circumstances because this is God’s will for your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Notice that this verse doesn’t say give thanks for all circumstances because God himself knows that not everything we go through is good, but if we know him, we can gives thanks in all circumstances because he is always there for us.  He knows everything about you because he created you❤Give Thanks in all circumstances because this is God’s will for your life. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Notice that this verse doesn’t say give thanks for all circumstances because God himself knows that not everything we go through is good, but if we know him, we can gives thanks in all circumstances because he is always there for us.  He knows everything about you because he created you❤

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

The secret to David’s success

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

What does God look for in us? H. E. A. R. T.

Humble heart.

David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.
1 Samuel 18:14

Expectant heart

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.
Psalms 37:4‭-‬5

Authentic Heart.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalms 139:23‭-‬24

Repentant Heart

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalms 51:17

Trusting Heart

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Psalms 73:26

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Zip it:Anger

“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
Genesis 4:6‭-‬7

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26‭-‬27

Wrong ways to Handle Anger

1. Spewers- express their anger

Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back

Ephesians 4:26-27

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
Psalms 32:3

Right ways to handle anger

1. Sinful anger: put it out

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:31‭-‬32

Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
James 1:19‭-‬20

2. Sanctified Anger: Fan the flame

He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!
Mark 3:5

If I have a problem with Anger

1. Admit it

For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of

Matthew 12:34

2. Ask God for his help to bring my anger under his control

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Colossians 3:8‭, ‬12‭-‬13

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

The Devil Made me do it: How to Resist the Devil

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:7‭-‬8

How do you resist the Devil?

1. Remember where you are

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Philippians 3:20

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8‭-‬9

2. Reduce distraction

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
1 Peter 2:11

Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
2 Timothy 2:4

3. Remain connected

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
John 15:4‭-‬9

We need to remain connected to:

  • The commander – God is our commander. He wants us to keep communicating with him in prayer and by reading his word.
  • The Troops- we need to stay connected to our family of believers because we can’t live this life alone

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