He Came...

November 30, 2011

Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I Am well pleased.”

He humbled himself, left His throne in Heaven to come to earth as a lowly child. As a baby who was totally dependent on the help and care of His earthly parents, He came. As a Son who knew the road set before Him, He came. I love Christmas, it’s no secret, it makes me happy to see the smiles on the faces of my children. I love the lights and tinsel. Yet, what I truly love the most is thinking that my Savior chose to follow His Fathers’ will and come to Earth as a baby. I think that is yet another wonderful picture of Christ’s love for us.

His Birth was Known...

***I've had some internet issues for the past couple of days, so I'm a little late. Don't you just hate technology sometimes!***

November 29, 2011

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign, behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

Since today starts the Advent, I’m going to do a little study on what the bible says about the birth of Christ. In this verse from Isaiah, we see that Jesus’ birth was predicted. It was known to the Jewish people that a Messiah was coming. However, He would not fit into the mold they had created for Him. He would not be what they wanted Him to be; so, they denied Him. Yet, here in Isaiah we see exactly the sign that Jesus was going to give them, and if I’m not mistaken, and I’m not, this describes Jesus’ birth exactly. God has no desire for us to be confused by what He gives us; instead, He wants us to be able to see Him, and know Him. He made it easy; told us exactly what to look for.

He is Worthy...

November 28, 2011

Exodus 15:11 Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds doing wonders?

When I began my journey into Thankfulness, I assumed that I would spend the month thanking God for what He has given to me. I did do that, however, it was just not in a manner I had first thought it would be. I discovered that the things I have to be thankful for mostly revolve around who God is. His discipline, His faithfulness, the fact

that He always keeps His promises, His strength, His unshakeable kingdom, just to name a few. No doubt that God has been good to provide me with all manner of great things: an amazing husband, great kids, a beautiful home, a thriving business, a calm environment to raise our children. All of those things are worthy of praise and thanksgiving too, of course. However, what is even greater is the attributes of Himself that God has shared with me.

He is Fatihfull...

November 23, 2011

Psalm 145:13 The Lord is faithful to all His promises

Oh, the peace that comes from knowing, and more importantly believing, this. The knowledge and belief that no matter what storms may come we are held. To know is one thing yet to believe is another. Maybe we don’t recognize the difference; maybe we are scared to believe. Yet, He is worthy of our belief. Every word in the bible is a promise written from God to us, and we can believe on it. We should examine ourselves to see if we believe or if we just have knowledge. I think it’s important to how we live our lives. If we spend today worrying about tomorrow or if we leave tomorrow to God; I believe, I know that God’s promises are kept, always.

Grateful Worship...

November 22, 2011

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe

Our gratefulness is expressed in our worship; our worship is how we show others that we are thankful. Worship, what is it; well some think it’s just the singing portion of your church service. No doubt that is part of it, but worship is much more. We worship God in how we give to Him; whether it is in the aspect of our monetary gifts or our service; giving to Him the first fruits of our labor. We worship Him when we raise godly children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. We worship Him when we follow His commandments; even when the world will never understand why. We worship Him every day, in every aspect of our lives. If we know that we are His and we believe that His kingdom is firm and unshakeable, then we must worship. It must be our natural reaction.

Thankfull in Weaknesses...

November 18, 2011

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities, For when I am weak, then I am strong

What an odd concept, to be glad of our weakness. Many today work so hard to cover up a perceived weakness or flaw, that we never stop to think why God would give it to us; or maybe we never acknowledge that He gave it to us in the first place. Our weaknesses aren’t things to brag about to be sure, but they are areas in which we can see God’s work in us. And if we are willing to allow Him to change us; we can see His power. And if we are willing to be transparent others can learn through our weaknesses and can see God’s power. So, today I am thankful for my weaknesses because I can look back and see His power through them. I can see where He has grown me and where I have been changed by His power. I am also ever mindful to try not to cover up those weaknesses, so that I can show that Power to those around me.

He is Faithful...

November 17, 2011

Deuteronomy 32:4 “…a God of faithfulness and without iniquity just and upright is he

I am thankful that even when I am unfaithful and full of iniquity, He is faithful. I am thankful that even though I doubt His will or am angry at the paths I walk; He is faithful and is always right. I am thankful that He never fails even when I do.

He has done far more...

November 16, 2011

1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.

If He did nothing else for us beyond salvation; He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving forever. If He did nothing else for us but give us mercy; He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving forever. If He did nothing else for us but give us His steadfast love; He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving forever. But He has done far more…

Being Held...

November 15, 2011

Psalm 139:10 Your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me

I am thankful that I am held. I am thankful for the comfort that gives me. I am thankful than nothing will ever take me from the hand that holds me. I am thankful that the hand that holds me also gives me rest, mercy, strength, patience, kindness, and love. I am thankful to be held.

The Love in Discipline...

November 14, 2011

Hebrews 12:6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives

I am thankful for the times that the Lord has disciplined me. Weird right, I mean who really wants to be disciplined. Well I wouldn’t say I wanted it, but I did learn from it. I learned that I was His. I learned that God did not want me to continue on in my sin because that would have resulted in greater problems. I learned that I was wrong. I learned that I was not living out the principles that I so love. I am thankful for the lessons God showed me. I am thankful that I can look back on it and see His hand in my discipline, and see were I was wrong. I am thankful that this lesson will help me to NOT repeat it in the future!

...living my fairytale!

November 11, 2011

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh

I have one of those marriages. You know the kind were people say I’m married to my best friend, but the difference between me and someone else is…I really am. I absolutely adore Terry. He is the other half of me. I know and believe whole- heartedly that God created me for Terry. I love to help him, I love to make him happy, and I love to do the little things that I know will put a smile on his face. Most importantly, I know he does the same for me. I know without a doubt that he would do anything for me. He has always worked so hard, sometimes more than one job, to make sure that I got to stay home with our children because we both felt that was important. I love him because he is the best Daddy; I melt when I see him hugging our babies. Honestly, I thought marriages like mine were only in fairytales, but turns out there not, they can be real! Terry and I are living proof we are living my fairytale!

from the other side of the world...

November 10, 2011

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this; to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world

Today I am thankful for adoption. Mine, into the family of God; I am thankful that God saw me and saved me. I am thankful that although I had done nothing deserving of it; He gave me salvation. I am also thankful today for the earthly adoption of my two sweet nephews, Eli and Gateon. I have the wonderful privilege of loving on these little guys all the time. They are the sweetest two boys and I love them like I do all my other natural born nieces and nephews. Funny thing is, I usually don’t think of them as adopted; this is how tightly God knits together families. Eli was adopted first from South Korea and a few years later came Gateon from Hong Kong. I look at them and see family; just like I look at all the other McCormick clan. Its really awe inspiring how God can take two little boys from the other side of the world and knit them so tightly into a family in Tennessee that we don’t really remember a time when they weren’t with us!! I am blessed beyond measure to be called Aunt Kirstie by these two sweeties!! (and yes, I love my other 10 nieces and nephews too!!)

Children, a reward and a....mirror??

November 9, 2011

Psalms 127:3 Behold children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward

I love my children; even though they sometimes drive me crazy, even though I sometimes live for bedtime, I just love my children. I know without any doubt that the greatest thing I will ever do is be their mom and that’s enough for me. I am constantly laughing at something they do, I am ferociously protective, and I am always learning from them. It has been said that children are the mirrors of our behavior, and that’s true. I have and do learn everyday something about me and mostly it’s not the good stuff. They help me; they show me areas of myself that I must change and work on. I am beyond blessed to be called Momma by these precious gifts from God. I am so thankful! I am so excited to see the men and woman God will make them into; I know that He has great plans for them.

Being Thankful for Answers...

November 8, 2011

Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my supplications. Because he has inclined his ear to me, therefore I shall call upon him as long as I live

I am so thankful for the absolute knowledge that when I call upon my God HE will answer. How wonderful? Now, of course, the harder part of this blessing to come to terms with is how He answers our prayers. It may not be in the manner that I desire, but I can rest in knowing that there will be an answer. Also, I can rest in knowing that my answer will be the best for me. As I sit here this month and ponder all the things I have to be thankful for, I realize how very many answered prayers I have been give.

The Habit of Thanksgiving...

November 7, 2011

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name

Continually is defined as, “Very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually. This is what Hebrews is telling us about thanksgiving. This is how often it should be on our lips. So, since God’s Word is telling us to praise his name continually; it would lead me to believe that God knew we would have plenty of be thankful for. I’m sure that the reason that our thanksgiving may be lacking is not because we have nothing to be thankful for, but that we fail to recognize it.

Refuge...

November 4, 2011

Psalm 84:1-2 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts. My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God

Psalm 5:11 but let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you

I am thankful that when the pressures of this life get me down or when grief is heavy on my heart or when I think I can not walk the path set before me; I can call upon the name of the Lord. I can call upon my God who is ever before me, and He will hear me and He will answer me. I can take refuge in the shadow of His grace, and I can mount up on the wings of His strength. I am thankful that He has taught me all these things about Him. I am thankful that He taught them to me before I actually had to use them!

remeber not the sins of my youth...

November 3, 2011

Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me. For the sake of your goodness, O, Lord!

I am thankful that God through His plan choose to remember not the sins of my youth or my yesterday as a matter of fact. I am thankful that no matter how many times or how big I mess up God’s forgiveness is there for me. I didn’t deserve it and could never pay for it own my own; it is what it is, purely a gift from God. Having been saved late in my life (my early 20’s) there is as I say, “Lots of water under the bridge of my life.” There are lots of things for which I am ashamed of having committed. Yet, here in Psalms it is clear that God does not remember the sins of my youth, and how happy and thankful I am that He doesn’t.

And be thankful...

November 2, 2011

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Sometime in the summer I read a blog post about a gal who was rediscovering her thankfulness. She did it often, almost every week, she would list all kinds of things for which she was thankful. I was convicted to do the same; so I did, over on my other blog. While I was doing this I discovered something, I have so much more to be thankful for than I ever dreamed possible. How sad is it that our days go by and we never notice the little things God grants to us. Those little things that happen in our day to day lives that we should be thankful for are what pass us by unnoticed. I must admit that I have gotten out of the habit of writing them down lately. So in honor of Thanksgiving Day, I will spend November writing about something I’m thankful for.

Who has your love?

November 1, 2011

1 John 2:15

V 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him

If asked this question I’m satisfied that the majority of “Christians” would say that they absolutely did not love the things of this world. But really that’s a lie, right…I mean we all do. We all want things; we want better cars or bigger houses or great outfits. We do and what’s more important we know it, even if we never admit it. Instead of denying what we know to be true, we should be trying to minimize the love. We should be always watchful that our love for the world never exceeds our love for the things of God. That we never allow anything to take precedence over God’s Will for our lives. We need to live lives that show others it is possible to not allow our love for the world to control us because it will, if we allow it. Take a look at what takes up the majority of your time, look at what you talk to your children about this will show you where your love is. Like Paul urged us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith; we must examine ourselves to see if our love for the world is out of control.