I love how God can take the simple things in life and turn them into a blessing.
This morning I stopped at CVS with the intent to purchase only some computer paper. However, I decided to check out the candy row to see if they had a bag of Tootsie Pops. I had searched two other stores previously to no avail. Lo and behold, I discovered CVS had my favorite low-calorie candy—three points per pop for those who know what I mean! ¹
As mostly what happens to us all, we go into a store with good intents and come out with more. I even added some colorful Post-it Page Markers to my other two items. As I left the drug store, I hit the red light under Houston’s Katy Freeway. There I saw a young man. His legs were so skinny—like they were diseased. All I had to give him was a Tootsie Pop. I cannot say I was extremely generous by giving him the entire bag, but I wanted to give him something sweet to eat. I wrestled opening the bag; finally, I had to use my teeth to open the bag. Not cool, but I was afraid the light was going to turn green.
Once the bag was open, I reached in and started to pull out an orange and red pop, but then stopped. It was like the Lord said, “Give him your best.” God knew that red and orange were not my favorites, but chocolate and purple were. So, I quickly reached in, opened my window, and gave him a chocolate and purple Tootsie Pop. It might not seem like a big sacrifice, but when you understand the last two bags of Tootsie Pops I bought had no purples in them, you can understand my “sacrifice” a little better.
Now, here is the best part. I handed this young man the two pops. He saw them and gave me a big old grin through his crooked yellow teeth, looked me straight in the eye, and said, “thank you.” Yes, it was a small gesture on my part, but it started me out on the right foot and started his day out with a little sweetness too!
Bible verses come from The New American Standard Bible.
Subscribe: Joining by subscription ensures you will receive an email every time a new blog is posted. You can subscribe to the Greene Pastures blog site in the right-hand corner. You will receive an email to confirm your subscription. Feel free to forward this to your friends and family.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas. May this Christmas season be filled with joy, gratitude, and a renewed devotion to Jesus Christ.
I want to thank you for reading, commenting, and sometimes challenging me on the blogs I have written this year. I listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading, as carefully as I can, to write what He is leading me to share with you.
This year I have been slacking a little bit for good reason–my dear mom passed away in August. Between caregiving, illness, and selling a home, I have been rather distracted. Let’s see how next year goes.
Knowing that many of you have lost a loved one this year as I have, I pray you are depending on God’s love and strength to get you through this first season without that special person. Jesus knows and cares about EVERYTHING we are going through. Prayers, my friend. I am empathizing with you.
Remembering Christ during this season is what really matters. Not how many material possessions you get or give – not your success or your perceived future achievements – not even your “spiritual knowledge.” What is important is that you honor Jesus Christ!
If you have not accepted Christ into your life, consider starting the new year with Christ as the supreme head of your life.
God’s purpose for us is salvation. But our problem is that we sin. Graciously though, God has provided a Savior in Jesus Christ who died for our iniquities. Our part is to entrust our lives to Him by confessing our sins and giving Him control.
It is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Changing the subject, I do want to tell you how much I appreciate those who have subscribed to my blog this year and for the shares with your friends and family. Love y’all for that. If you haven’t subscribed, but would like to, see the link below. It is easy. Just type in your email address, receive an email confirmation, and you will start receiving my blogs and snippets as I write and post them.
I hope you use the devotional below as a tool to bring Christ into your home this Christmas. Adjust it. Rework it. Do whatever will work for your family regarding the length and age of those involved!
And thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
Preparing for Your Christmas Devotional
– Find a fun Christmas song for the family to listen to.
– Decide on a Christmas song to sing as a family.
– Locate music/instruments as accompaniments.
– Locate a Bible. Family Bibles are fun to use.- Decide on a Devotional Leader.
Prelude
– Play a favorite Christmas song or hymn.
– Open with a prayer thanking God for the Christmas season and the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
– Read Luke 2:1-20 from the Bible
[Children and teens love the opportunity to read the Bible.]
Responsive Reading: Leader: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Leader: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Leader: I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Leader: Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Leader: All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Leader: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Leader: I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Leader: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.
Family: Jesus is the Savior of the World.
Song/Hymn Sing your chosen Christmas song or hymn with optional instruments. Note: Young children can use any noisemaker; i.e. maracas, children’s instruments, guitars, or cooking pots with wooden spoons!
Sharing Time Leader: As we celebrate the Christmas season, let’s not lose the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas does not rest in finely-trimmed trees, expensive gifts, or in the hustle and bustle that fills the Christmas season. Christmas is about the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Through Jesus, all mankind can experience forgiveness and freedom.
Leader: Ask family members if they would like to share what Christmas means to them.
Family Prayer
Leader: Pray and thank God for the coming of Christ. Consider your family joining hands and allow each member of the family an opportunity to pray.
A “Christmas Gift” from Me to You!
Love in Christ,
Patti
P.S. I would LOVE to see pics of you having a Christmas devotional (either using this devotional or any other devotional). Please post it on my Facebook page for me and others to enjoy! The photo above is of our grandchildren from Christmas 2019; this year there will be ONE MORE! A baby boy born in February 2020.
With Christmas coming up, devotional workbooks are great gifts for your parents, children (any age), and friends. By purchasing one of my books, you will be helping me to maintain and upkeep my Christian blog. Love y’all.
I have been writing Dear God letters for many decades. A few letters are penmanship perfect, but most of the time they are a jumbled long-hand script of thoughts to God.
Communicating with God
What a privilege it is to be able to look back and see how my prayers and communications with my heavenly Father are so raw and honest!
As I’ve learned more about God and His ways, I know it’s not popular to say, “God told me . . .” so I rarely say that. I am human and I know that, in my humanness, I can easily be mistaken in messages I perceive to be from God. Therefore, I prefer to say, “I feel impressed that. . .” We are imperfect beings and prone to interpret things incorrectly. I can accept that.
But what I can’t accept is that some people say God does not have the power to reveal Himself to us. With me, God most often uses the Bible to show me His will, His desires, and His love. I love spending time studying and meditating upon words, phrases, or chapters in the Bible seeking His wisdom and direction. The Bible is God’s love letter to us. Through His Word, He shares Himself with us.
Equally important, there are the special times when His sweet words calmly enter my mind and the holy presence of God is impressed upon me. The joy and peace I feel foreshadow a breath-taking encounter between God and me. Just sitting and spending time with my Lord—reveling in His love towards me—is sweeter than a cool glass of water on a hot summer day!
When we bask in His love and get into His presence, we are placing ourselves in a position where God can “speak to us” or shall I say “impress Himself on us”. The beauty of wallowing in His rest and glory will astound us every time. Moreover, we leave that place of sweet and satisfying fellowship with a spark in our eyes, a love in our heart, and a desire to give Him all of ourselves. It is in these moments the Holy Spirit may impart and reveal His thoughts to us. Interconnecting with our Lord and Savior at these times fosters our faith and develops our spiritual growth.
The Challenge
I challenge you this week to ask God to let you see EVERYTHING through the eyes of His precious son Jesus.
When we let God be God and listen to Him through prayer or the Bible, the peace which passes all understanding falls upon us (see Philippians 4:7). It’s like what I imagine Heaven on Earth to be like.
Find What Works for You
Below is just a sampling of a “Letter to God.” You may not like to express yourself in words and writing as I do, but the Lord wants to communicate with you. By the same token, there is no right or wrong way to communicate with the Lord. Find out what works for you and just love being loved by Him.
Dear God Letter and God’s Reply
Dear God,
We’ve been together for a long time. Over the years, we have been learning more and more about each other—or should I say, I’ve been learning so much about You! As the years have gone by, my love for You is getting stronger and stronger. You are my everything. Sometimes, I don’t know why You love me so much. All those times I have left You behind You have stayed alongside of me. I want to love You as much as You love me. You listen to me—even answering me even when I don’t want an answer. Open my ears to hear Your wisdom. Let me have an increasing understand of Your ways every day. Thank you, Lord.
Me
=====================================
My Dear Loved One,
Oh, how I cherish My time with you, but today I want you to listen to Me.
I know your thoughts and I am right here with you. All healing comes from My sovereignty. I keep secrets and I don’t share my thoughts about you with others—just as I don’t share other people’s thoughts with you unless I need to. I am God. Therefore, I can do with you and others as I please, but it’s all for your protection and growth.
The waiting—the being patient—is so you will trust in My will more and more. Whenever I am ready to share with you, I will. And, I do the same for others. I hold on to what you aren’t ready to accept until My perfect timing is complete.
Be strong; be enlightened; confess sins. Ask and continue to ask for My help. I know you are confused about your thoughts and your future. Again, I say, “Be strong,” Follow my commandments. Love Me. I want you “to want to want what I want.” ¹ That’s the goal. I love you. My hand and My Spirit are upon you. I know what you are going through, and I am with you every step of the way—safeguarding you and others until the day where you can rejoice either in heaven or on Earth. Let My will be done in My timing.
God
Different and Unique
It’s so simple to converse with God. Use your words, your colloquialisms, and your expressions. Be yourself. Also, be honest. Don’t be concerned if you don’t pray as others pray. God created us—we are different and unique. We pray differently. Furthermore, we write, listen and read differently. Our uniqueness is what makes us who we are. Embrace it. Just be yourself.
The important thing is to just start communicating with your heavenly Father and let Him communicate with you. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines communication as:
A personal rapport
Information transmitted or conveyed [through] a verbal or written message, or
A process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior. ²
Whether you are talking to God in prayer or writing to God, He desires our hearts to be open to Him.
Whenever I write my Dear God letters, I am cognizant of the fact that writing a letter to God is a very personal experience. Sometimes I write to praise Him; other times I write to thank Him; and even other times, I write to address an issue. No matter why one writes a letter to the Lord, we should approach our communication with an honest and sincere heart. God desires all our communication to be more than eloquent words, a penmanship-perfect letter, a jumbled note, or a conglomerate of misplaced typing errors on a piece of computer paper! He wants us to come as we are, with all the honesty and sincerity we can muster.
God Bless,
Bible Gateway Blogger Member – Bible Gateway Blogger Grid (BG²) is an international network of independent bloggers who meaningfully blog—and who are serious—about matters relating to the Bible. Follow the members on Twitter using the BG² List; Inspirational Writers Alive Member (IWA) – Central Houston Location; Baylor University, B.A.
Bible Verses:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. (Nehemiah 8:8)
Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. (Psalm 104:34)
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. (1 John 5:1)
Prayer:
God, thank You for all the love You have bestowed upon me. In addition, I thank You with my whole heart that You have made known to me Christ’s love and for filling me with the fullness of You. May my prayers, meditations and reading always guide me into the spirit of truth. Likewise, challenge me to be dwell in Your presence every single day. I love You.
Works Cited
¹ In a recent sermon, my pastor used the expression, “I want to want what God wants.” I added one more want here.
² “Communication.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2019. Web. 5 Feb 2019.
Bible verses are taken from the New American Standard Bible.
Over the past 47 years, participation in various Bible studies was a no-brainer. Reading, studying, and meditating on the Bible has been one of the most rewarding adventures of my life. Whether the studies were from pastors, discipleship leaders or workbooks, the effect they have had on my life has been profound.
Ever since I accepted Jesus Christ, I have participated in various Bible studies
Being a reader, and one who enjoys any kind of paper-pen-pencil combination, Bible study workbooks became my favorite method of reading, studying and meditating on the Word of God. Through them, I have grown in my faith, learned Biblical principles and wrestled with spiritual issues. These studies grew me from a “baby believer”, who knew nothing about the Bible, Bible doctrine or theology, into a “baby believer” who became armed with the Word of God—ready to tackle whatever was in store for me in my faith journey.
Along with these Bible study workbooks, I have partaken in topical Bible studies, Bible-based book studies and personal Bible studies (those done solely on my own). Choosing which Bible study I utilize depends on my interests, the authors, what studies are going on at my church, and/or what the Lord leads me to study for purposes such as teaching me, teaching others, or pursuing ministries He has for me.
Shortly after becoming a believer, some profound Bible studies helped me in my early walk with the Lord. They were:
The Ten Basic Steps to Christian Maturity by Campus Crusade
The Be Series by Warren Wiersbe
The Joy of Living Bible study
David Wilkerson’s Jesus Person Maturity Manual, and later
Experiencing God by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
Searching for Good Bible Studies
While it is not popular to say this, I have been involved in Bible studies that I later realized contained false doctrine and flat-out false teaching. [And yes, they are in Christian bookstores.]
As I grew, the Lord began to give me His discernment into which studies honored Him and which studies did not. It has become a challenge for me to find studies when I browse through Amazon or bookstores. I am diligent to read the author’s background, what they believe, and what their ministry stands for. If it makes you feel better, I am a “certified Texas librarian” so this kind of research and analysis comes easy—even expected—for me!
In January 2018, I walked into a Christian bookstore intending to find a Bible study to pursue at home. I looked and looked, but I couldn’t find one among the extensive shelves containing books from various authors from A-Z! I even looked at the $4.00 and under book carts. I’ve learned that some of the deeper books I enjoy end up on those carts. I’m not sure if it is because people like different studies than I do or if God is giving this retired gal a monetary break!
My Personal Journey
Because I own so many books, studies, literature, and Bibles, I periodically do some spring cleaning of my bookshelves—not so much to discard older ones but to make room for new selections. Since my books cover so many topics and authors, I even have a framed sign on my downstairs bookcases that say,
“Just because I own it and have read it, it doesn’t mean I believe it!”
Just because I own it and read it, does not mean I believe it!
You see, I keep some of my questionable books for comparison purposes for writing or speaking in ministry.
As I’ve grown in the Lord, I realize that reading the Bible semi-exclusively has become my forte (at least for now). While I enjoy other studies, I get more satisfaction out of studying God’s Word for myself than out of reading other people’s thoughts and their personal stories. Interestingly enough, the Bible resonates more with me now than when I first started my faith journey.
A Place for Bible Studies
Don’t get me wrong there is a place for Bible studies, but in all honesty, some stories or illustrations seem as if the author has stretched his imagination to make them fit a given verse and/or topic.
But hey, count me in that group! I am guilty of that myself. Many times, I have looked up topics in illustration books (usually ones written by well-known religious leaders or celebrities) when I am trying to write or speak to groups. Sometimes they work well—other times not.
But now in my journey, I love finding little nuggets about the lives of Biblical characters. I enjoy using them as my illustrations when writing or teaching. I have come to a point in my journey where I love God speaking to me directly from His Word.
13 Reasons to Read, Study and Meditate on the Bible
God’s Word . . .
Convicts us of sin.
And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8)
Gives us His promises to depend on.
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (2 Peter 1:4)
Gives us strength and peace.
The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)
Guides us in the moral and ethical decisions we face.
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)
Guides us into wise thinking and behavior.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)
Is powerful and true.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Keeps us from being swayed by false teachings, teachers and incorrect doctrinal errors.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2 Peter 2:1)
Keeps us from temptations.
No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Leads us and others to salvation and eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Leads us to consistency in our walk with God.
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
Remains close to our heart to guide and influence us.
Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; (Psalm 23:3)
Shows us how Christ lives so we can emulate His lifestyle as we grow and minister to others.
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:4-6)
Shows us how to minister to others.
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31)
In all love I can give you, I want to encourage you to block out time for reading, studying and meditating on God’s Word, to commit to reading more of the Bible (as opposed to the writings of others), to spend more time reading the unadulterated, pure Word of God, and find a plan that works for you.
Bible Study Plans
Bible study plans are a great way to keep your Bible study consistent. Plans will vary in . . .
Length;
Time duration;
The number of days per week; [I love the plans that give me the weekend off to pursue other things of importance to me.]
Topic;
Money; [For example, if you choose to read the Bible through chronologically, you might need to purchase a chronological Bible.]
Ease, and more.
While I could link you to various plans, I have decided to let you do your own search for a plan that will work for you. Many plans provide you will a scheduled list you can print out, download digitally or have emailed to you daily. Some plans want you to sign up for their emails before providing a plan. My suggestion is for you to make those kinds of decisions yourself and follow through. However, please take special caution to make sure your source comes from true Bible-centered organizations!
13 Types of Bible-Reading Plans Available for Studying, Reading and Meditating
A read-through-the entire Bible plan (reading straight through from Genesis to Revelation);
An Old Testament plan;
A New Testament plan;
A Bible chronological plan;
A Bible historical plan;
A Gospel plan;
A 90-day challenge plan; a 180-day reading plan; a 365-day reading plan;
A thematic Bible plan;
A “Bible book at a time” plan;
A blended plan—reading some Old Testament and some New Testament simultaneously;
A Jesus’ Words plan;
A short-term commitment plan;
A personalized plan, and more.
As for me, my Bible study plan for 2019, so far, looks like this. It’s a personalized plan written down on plain old notebook paper!*
Finish the Bible study plan I am currently doing; [Okay—it’s the read-through-the-Bible plan I intended to finish in 2018 but didn’t quite finish!]
Read all the Words of Jesus in the KJV;
Read, study and meditate on the Old Testament Book of Habakkuk;
Read, study and meditate on the New Testament Book of John through the Joy of Living series;
Read, study and meditate on the New Testament Book of Mark;
Read, study and meditate on the Old Testament during my quiet time;
Read, study and meditate on the New Testament during my quiet time; then
Pursue whatever the Lord leads me to – Maybe a quick study on the Old Testament prophet Nehemiah.
Conclusion
I’d love to hear from you to see how you decide to hear from God this year—be it a programmed study, scheduled Bible study plan, or a personal plan.
Back in January, as I left that Christian bookstore empty-handed after a vain search for a Bible study, I heard a voice within me saying, “Patti, don’t be discouraged.” I smiled, started my car, and drove home pondering what was my yearly plan to be. It came to me in a still, small voice. “Patti, read through the Bible in 2018.” And while I didn’t quite reach that goal, I’m almost there!
The important thing is to MAKE A PLAN AND GET STARTED!
Bible Verses:
Old Testament prophet Joshua said, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it . . . “ (Joshua 1:8)
New Testament prophet John said, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3)
Prayer:
My gracious heavenly Father. I come to You as I start 2019 looking for ways to please You. I need You in my life for so many reasons. I am committing myself right now to be more immersed Your Word this year. I need Your Holy Spirit to guide me into a study that I can finish—one that I won’t give up on by the end of January. Being in Your presence is my desire for this new year. Thank You for always being by my side even when my faith is weak and my heart is faint. I truly love You.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas. May this Christmas season be filled with joy, gratitude, and a dependence upon the Lord for everything.
This year I decided to write a “Christmas Devotional” that my friends can use year after year with their family. Sharing it with you is my pleasure. All you need to do is copy and paste, print it, follow the instructions, and you are ready to lead a Christ-centered devotional for your family. It can be adjusted to your family needs and time allotments. My prayer is that you will enjoy it, share it, and save it! [Scroll down to devotional.]
In case you missed my last few blogs, see below. Always know you can share any of my blogs with your friends and family.
And thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
Preparing for Your Christmas Devotional
– Find a fun Christmas song for the family to listen to.
– Decide on a Christmas song to sing as a family.
– Locate music/instruments as accompaniments.
– Locate a Bible. Family Bibles are fun to use.
– Decide on a Devotional Leader.
Prelude
– Play a favorite Christmas song or hymn.
– Open with a prayer thanking God for the Christmas season and the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
– Read Luke 2:1-20 from the Bible
[Children and teens love the opportunity to read the Bible.]
Responsive Reading: Leader: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Leader: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Leader: I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Leader: Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Leader: All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Leader: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Leader: I am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Leader: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Family: Jesus is Savior of the World.
Song/Hymn Sing your chosen Christmas song or hymn with optional instruments. Note: Young children can use any noisemaker; i.e. maracas, children’s instruments, guitars.
Sharing Time Leader: As we celebrate the Christmas season, let’s not lose the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas does not rest in finely-trimmed trees, expensive gifts, or in the hustle and bustle that fills the Christmas season. Christmas is about the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Through Jesus, all mankind can experience forgiveness, and freedom.
Leader: Ask family members if they would like to share what Christmas means to them.
Family Prayer
Leader: Pray and thank God for the coming of Christ. Consider your family joining hands and allow each member of the family an opportunity to pray.
Five Simple Steps for Making Your Own Devotional Prayer Journal / Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti
[From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]
For the past 44 years I have put together a prayer journal of one type or another. During that time, I have improved my journals each year until I felt that I had perfected them. These journals change from year to year depending on my personal and spiritual needs. The photo above shows my personal homemade journal for 2017! It’s easy to make. You can be as creative as you want or not creative at all. As Nike says, “Just Do It.”
Five Simple Steps to Make a Comprehensive Prayer Journal
1. Purchase or find a 3-ring notebook.
2. Purchase some notebook paper, dividers, pens, and/or markers if needed.
3. Come up with several categories and write them on your dividers. A good starter-set of categories might include “Prayer Requests”, “Bible Study Notes”, “Notes from Christian Books”, “Dear God Letters”, “Sermon Notes”.
4. Place the titled dividers and notebook paper in your binder. Put some notebook paper behind each divider. You may need to buy more notebook paper during the year.
5. Then, commit to using it daily with your Bible!
And, VOILÀ! You have a comprehensive devotional prayer journal!
You can add a zippered three-ring pencil holder for pencils, pens, and markers. This year I added a three-ring envelope for cards and special correspondence from friends and family.
And if you don’t like creating your own, I have written three devotional prayer journals that are already formatted and on sale at Amazon. They are Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer; Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer, and Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer. Click here to read more.
The important thing is not what type of prayer and Bible study mechanism you use, just use one. There are different options for keeping track of your prayer requests and Bible Study. Not everyone likes to start from scratch designing and organizing their own journals. But, for those of you who do, go for it! And then, please let me know how the Lord uses it in your walk with Him!
And, I’d love to see photos of your own created devotional prayer journal!
Heavenly Father, thank you for all the ups and the downs in 2016. All that happens to me works for good according to your purposes if I allow it. Let me follow your steps in 2017. Show me power in your word and when I pray. Convict me of my sins – both big and small. Let my studies seep so deep into my soul that I will not fear whatever is put in my path. Allow me to be consistent in my quiet time and please help me to honor you by having daily devotions. In your holy name, Jesus, I pray.
Choose to Have a Godly Christmas (or Choose to Miss Out) / by Patti Greene, Greene Pastures by Patti
[From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]
Christmas is right around the corner. It is a time of fun and family for many people, but a time of sadness and loss for other people. We can choose to have a Godly Christmas or to miss out on all that God wants for us this season.
This Christmas will be our family’s first year without my father. You see, he passed away in February with a sudden diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. From diagnosis to death was only 3 weeks. My mother, my brothers, spouses, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and myself miss him tremendously, but we decided to continue with the fun family time that he always enjoyed with us.
How can we keep having a great Christmas even when losses or tragedies have zapped our spirits over the past year? It’s tough, but well worth considering.
Get Your Mind Off Yourself andThink of Others
Whether it is within your own family and friends or with getting together through volunteering, thinking of others gets us beyond ourselves. It strengthens our character and gives birth to empathy towards others. Being part of another’s happiness makes us want to be a part of their lives. Think about the children we may encounter during the Christmas season. Make them happy! Think of the homeless men and women who need someone to talk to this Christmas. Make them grateful! Think of those who never receive a word of encouragement. Send a note to lift them up!
Be Pre-Prayed Up
To enjoy the season with a Godly attitude, pray before Christmas that your life will appreciate and enjoy the little niceties of the season. Pray that stress will not get you down. Pray that your family will get along. Pray that Christ will be glorified. Pray for forgiveness for any sins lingering in your mind. Repent of bad attitudes such as being jealous of others, or frequently wanting your own way.
Spend Time in the Bible
Let the Word of God soak deeply in your mind to prepare you to think of Christ and his birth during the days and weeks before December 25th. Ask God to speak to you about your life in 2016. Meditate on Christ’s presence in your life during 2017. Decide to follow God with your whole heart in the new year.
Continue with Family Traditions or Create some New Ones
If you haven’t starting making family traditions, start this year. Some family traditions my immediate family have had over the years are getting new sleepwear every year for all in the family. We open them before we open our gifts and wear them the rest of the evening. This tradition has developed from just plain pajamas to creating a secret theme each year for our pajamas. The kids love guessing, but I never tell ahead of time. A recent tradition that I started when grandchildren arrived was to wrap their gifts in different wrapping papers. Camren might have reindeer gift-wrap, Kinley might have peppermints, Crew might have Christmas trees, Chandler might have snowmen, and Harper might have candy cane paper. This is so fun for the kids. They scout out their gifts and they experience so much jubilee when they find one of their cousins’ gifts deep in the pile and hand (or throw) it to them. There are many other traditions you might be interested in.
Read the Christmas Story aloud in Luke 2 while the family listens. It is a big deal in our family because we take the huge heavy family Bible and drag that out for its annual trek to the family circle. The kids love seeing a BIBLE that big. This is an awesome experience in teaching everyone that the real meaning of Christmas belongs to Jesus Christ. Also, saying a blessing before the Christmas meal encourages all to honor our Lord and Savior. Giving everyone a chance to show gratitude for their food, provisions, and health is cleansing to our souls.
Grin and be thankful for any gifts or compliments you receive. When our children and grandchildren observe us being thankful, they will hopefully model our behavior and be thankful this year and years to come. Try chatting with the kids before-hand and show them how to show gratitude for their gifts and meal even when it isn’t exactly what they want. This could come in a “thankful yell” across the room or getting up to give the person a hug or a kiss. And, after the fact, writing a thank-you note is a lovely gesture even for children. They can draw a picture of their gifts or even scribble. It is a great opportunity to teach our children how to write notes and address envelopes too.
Plan Ahead
When we plan in our shopping, in our food preparations, in our travels, and in our time, it helps ease the stress many of us experience during the Christmas season.thank
Using food as an example, if there is any food you can prepare ahead of time, do that. Preparing a huge Christmas or Christmas Eve meal is difficult. But having the host in the kitchen the entire gathering time is disconcerting to guests or family members. It is possible their Christmas celebration isn’t what they want when they never see the host or their grandmother because the kitchen and the dishes are her focus.
Put Christ in Christmas by Talking about Him
Model Christ in your behavior. Go to a Christmas Eve service. Have a manger scene available – kids love the adults in the family to play with the manager characters; watch Christian Christmas movies, and more.
No matter what your situation is during the Christmas season, let your light shine. Be a blessing to someone else. Enjoy the season and remember it is because Christ was born that we have the hope of salvation and eternal life through him.
It’s our choice whether we choose to have a Godly Christmas or to miss out. Choose today!
If you would like to learn more about Patti’s life or work, visit her blog Greene Pastures.
Childhood Interests
Growing up my family valued books and reading. The bookshelves in my parents’ home were always overflowing with novels, magazines, and encyclopedias. Newspapers were delivered in abundance to every home we owned. My two brothers and I were raised to believe that bookcases were an essential piece of furniture in every room.
Where I lived in the northeast, there weren’t any brick-and-mortar libraries close by. Despite that, I found much enjoyment going to the bookmobile that showed up weekly at the local shopping center. While my mother was in the grocery store, I would anxiously and excitedly climb the big bookmobile stairs. I was always in search of the perfect books to check out. Every Christmas I looked forward to receiving good books to read.
By the time I went to high school, I was not as interested in reading anymore. I remember one day my father restricted me to the dining room table until I read an article in a Newsweek magazine. Reading was always valued in my family, and it still is.
As I write this article, my 91-year-old mother is sitting at the kitchen table taking notes from her medical books.
A Call to Writing
As a child when we traveled on our vacations, my parents had my brothers and I write diary entries on our days’ adventures. This was my first recollection of enjoying “collections.” When I was seventeen, I began logging my prayer requests in various types of note-books. Basically, I found myself prayer-journaling before prayer-journaling came into vogue.
For many years I worked as a librarian. One day after retirement, I prayed fervently about what the Lord wanted me to do. In his own way during my quiet time, I was impressed to go into my bedroom closet. My first thought was, “Oh no God, you aren’t going to make me sit in my messy closet and pray, are you?”
As I stood in my closet, I was impressed again to, “Look up.” There stood 42-years of prayer journals on my top shelf. It was then I heard the still, small voice saying, “Patti, I want you to write prayer journals. This is what I have been preparing you for all these years.” While I have tinkered with writing articles and stories most of my adult life, I became serious at that point. My mission was to write prayer journals so others could experience joy, comfort, and security. Blessings which I’d experienced throughout my entire adult life.
Prayer Journals
My devotional prayer-journals combine Bible study and prayer. The two cannot be separated. Each journal includes black datelines, topics, and Scripture verses. As well as a suggested Bible reading, prayer request sections, and a section to honor God with your thoughts.
My prayer is for others to become serious about prayer and Bible study. I practice my writing skills on my own Christian blog Greene Pastures. While I believe “practicing” a skill is of utmost importance, I believe continuous daily practice in communicating with God is essential. That is why I am honored to have the following three journals published with WestBow Press.
Awaken Me: Growing Deeper in Bible Study and Prayer – A 365-day devotional incorporating interesting phrases from the Bible.
Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Bible Study and Prayer – A 181-day devotional filled with both spiritual and social issues.
Answer Me: Developing a Heart for God – a 90-day devotional prayer journal for those desiring how to have a deeper prayer life. NEW RELEASE.
A 90-day devotional prayer journal for all ages; This informative and how-to book on prayer is for seekers, new believers, and mature believers. It encourages commitment and devotion to the art of prayer. Learn how God reveals himself through Bible study and prayer. ISBN: 978-1512760453 (Paperback) $11.95 on Amazon.
A 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback) $27.95 on Amazon.
A 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. It comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback) $19.95 on Amazon.
Worth It: 28-Day Bible Study on ACTS by Patti Greene
Jay Smith writes the following summary on the Book of Acts.
The genre of the book of Acts is Narrative History with several Sermons. Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke, was a doctor and Gentile. He wrote this book circa 60-62 A.D. It is Luke’s sequel to the Gospel of Luke. It is titled “Acts” to emphasize that this book records the “Acts of the Apostles through the work of the Holy Spirit”. The key personalities of Acts are Peter, Paul, John, James, Stephen, Barnabas, Timothy, Lydia, Silas, and Apollos.
Luke wrote the book of Acts (Acts of the Apostles) to record how believers were empowered by the Holy Spirit, worked to spread the Gospel of Christ, and are a model for the future church.
The book of Acts is also the history of the birth, the founding, and the spread of the Church from Jerusalem to Rome. It also records the transition of the Church from being almost exclusively a Jewish institution into becoming a Gentile and an international institution. Consequently, it records the transition of Christianity from a Jewish religion into an international faith. The Gospel of salvation is for all because Jesus Christ is Lord of all.¹
Looking for a 28-day Bible study? Why not go through the Book of Acts – ONE chapter a day! Get out your Bible, copy and paste the text between the asterisks into a Word document. Save it and print it out each day and start reading all about the beginning of the church from Luke’s viewpoint. It’s an awesome book. I know you will love it.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8).
For if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. (Acts 5:38b).
In all things, I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35).
Prayer:
Dear Father, I want to learn more about your holy Bible. Please give me the power and strength to work through this 28-day study in Acts. I desire to hear from you. I desire for a renewed love for You. Give me wisdom and understanding each day as I read through each chapter. Thank you for this opportunity. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version containing the Old and New Testament. Wheaton: Crossway, 2001. [All verses come from the English Standard Bible unless noted otherwise]
If you liked this article and would like to receive email notifications of new posts or to receive monthly newsletters, please click here and scroll down on www.GreenePastures.org to subscribe. It is an easy way not to miss any posts in your feed! Moreover, I would love seeing you as part of the Greene Pastures Community.
My Books – Available on Amazon or can be ordered at any retail book store. You may order an autographed copy by clicking on SHOP on this site.
Devotional Prayer Journals by Patti Greene
Awaken Me – 365-day devotional prayer journal for in-depth Bible study; Fun words or phrases from the Old and New Testaments! Perfect for mature believers. ISBN: 978-1490893181 (Paperback)
Anchor Me – 181-day devotional prayer journal for growing individuals; The Bible and social issues. Perfect for new believers. Comes with a group study guide. ISBN: 978-1490893174 (Paperback)
Answer Me – Coming Soon: 90-day devotional prayer journal; All about prayer! Perfect for everyone who wants to deepen their prayer life.
On my blog, I want to write about topics that serve your needs and about what matters to you. I strive to help you with your needs and interests. Therefore, I am inviting you to share your interests with me so the content I write about will be more relevant to you. Please comment on this blog or email me at Patti@GreenePastures.org for confidentiality.
[Why I Self-Published My Books – From Email notifications, click the title for best web viewing]
Have you ever been all psyched up to do something and then for some reason, you just get that feeling that you need to do something else? Yesterday I spent a lot of time working on my blog about Purah. Yes, Purah! He’s the Old Testament guy who no one knows about unless you are quite familiar with Gideon’s story in the Book of Judges! However, I wasn’t “feeling it” as I tried to write the article. I began to feel a nudge to blog about how I chose to self-publish my books. If any of you reading this blog know why I was nudged to change the topic, please let me know. I am curious beyond measure!
Over the past three years, many people have asked me why I chose self-publishing my books over traditional publishing. There are spiritual and not-so-spiritual reasons that went into my decision. However, it was a pretty easy decision for me to make — especially since my generous husband was willing to give me the money to fulfill my “publishing dream.”
I. First things first – God gave me a message to write about – devotional prayer journaling. By the time I wrote my first book, I had been prayer journaling for 40+ years. All that means is that each year, I made a new notebook where I wrote down my prayer requests, thoughts, dreams, Bible study notes, and various other topics. One day a few months after retiring from my school librarian job, I had been asking God what He wanted me to do. He impressed upon me to walk into my closet. Yes, bizarre as it sounds, God impressed me to walk into my bedroom closet. I did. I looked up to the top shelf of my closet. There were all my journals and prayer requests from 40+ years ago all lined up. In a quiet whisper, God spoke. He said, “I have been preparing you to write prayer journals all these years. Now is the time to do it.”
II. God led me in that direction by finding my initial self-publishing company himself. As a high school librarian, I would receive calls and emails from publishing companies frequently. The spring before I retired, I received an email from CrossBooks, the self-publishing division of Lifeway, at the time. I filled out the form that I would like information about self-publishing. I started receiving a few phone calls and information about the company and I stored that in the back of my mind.
III. I also didn’t want to spend a lot of time messing with publishing companies and receiving rejection letters for years. I told myself I was 58 years old and if I am going to do something, I better do it now. Basically, I was getting old and I wanted to get something in print before I died. That was my thinking at the time.
IV. I wanted to have total creative control in the publishing process which I could do if I self-published.
I loved . . .
Deciding what font and size I wanted to use;
Picking out my own photos to put in the book [I learned a lot about stock photos, Photoshop, and pixels];
Choosing the graphics for my own book;
Graphics
Working at my own pace which for me was FAST compared to others I have talked to. I recently took one of those questionnaires on Facebook and it said my best quality was that I am an over-achiever. So, you can only imagine the hard and concentrated effort I put in my books.
Designing my own cover — with the help of a graphic artist.
I’m not here to tell you self-publishing books is for you. It may not always be true for me, but for my first 3 books, it has been the route God has chosen. [I’m working on my 3rd book now.]
I did run across some pros and cons with self-publishing. You may not think they are pros or cons, but for me they were.
PROS OF SELF-PUBLISHING
God taught me patience;
God taught me to be wise with money;
God taught me how to follow his leadings step-by-step even if I didn’t understand them;
God impressed upon me that he knows the big picture of my life, and it is always best to follow his leads – in this case, it was to self-publish!
CONS OF SELF-PUBLISHING
Having to learn all the Microsoft features needed to type the books before pushing the final copies to Crossbooks, i.e. mark entry, insert index, captions, insert citations, headers, footers, margins, breaks, hyphenations, watermarks, indenting, spacing, wrapping text, and reviewing;
Paying for a self-publishing package;
Paying for book editing;
Having to write my own introduction and preface;
Being solely responsible for any omissions or errors in the book;
Not selling as many books as I would like to since I do not have the support of a well-known publishing company;
Marketing myself. [Honestly, I don’t have enough time to market well with other responsibilities I have right now.]
After both of my books were published, I received a letter from CrossBooks stating Lifeway was eliminating their self-publishing arm and I needed to find a new publishing company or use Westbow Press, the self-publishing division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan. At first, I wasn’t thrilled about having to change publishing companies, but now that I have gone through the transfer process with Westbow Press, I am thrilled with the results. God made provisions in this change where I have been able to fix every known error in the books, change the size of Book 2, and change Book 2’s cover which I wasn’t satisfied with the first time around.
God knows what he is doing all the time. When we step out in faith and are obedient to his promptings, we see God working in our lives and the lives of others. There are days I talk to God and say, “LORD, why have I spent so much time and money on these books and they aren’t getting into the hands of those that need them?” But, when I get into my pity-party mood, I have to continue to trust God because knows what he is doing. Someday when a traditional publisher shows their face, I will seriously consider the option, but I will never regret what I have learned with my first publishing feats by self-publishing. No, not ever!
If you have any comments or questions on this topic, please let me know. I would love to hear them. And, if you were the one I was writing to, let me know. Maybe God will lead me to write on Purah in the future, but today just wasn’t the day!
Tweet This
