Daybreak

My photos do not do justice to the sunrise on this penultimate day of 2011, but here is my best shot at capturing the 360 degrees of glory for you:

Because of our God’s merciful compassion, 

the Dawn from on high will visit us 

to shine on those who live in darkness 

and the shadow of death, 

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1:78-79, HCSB

Come soon, Lord Jesus!

One Thousand Gifts Book Giveaway

Photo credit: incourage.me

Dear Crumbles, the year's reading has not altered my opinion that Ann Voskamp's New York Times bestseller One Thousand Gifts would be my favorite new book of 2011. By way of thanking you and supporting any new gratitude habits in the works for 2012, I would like to offer one copy of the book to a commenter on this post. To enter, please leave a comment before 11:59PM, January 2, 2012. The winner will be chosen by Random.org on January 3. (If you are reading this by email or in a feed reader, please click over to the actual blog to leave a comment.)

Considering the formation of new habits, in company with the Holy Experience community:

A Christmas Blessing from Wits' End

When the time came to completion, God sent His Son,born of a woman, born under the law,  to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 4:4-7, HCSB

May you never cease to marvel at the mystery of Christmas:
God in a feeding trough,
Small enough to hold in your arms,
Fully God and fully human,
That He might fully atone for the sins of mankind.
Only through this Incarnation
Can we know salvation,
New life as sons and daughters of God.
Whatever your circumstances today, dear Crumbles,
May you find joy in knowing this Christ we celebrate.

Giving thanks today for the first, last, and best gift, the Lord Jesus Christ

Advent 4: Salvation

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21, NIV1984).


How can it be that
All the weight of all the promises
And government will rest
On the wee shoulders
Of this bairn
In a borrowed crib?


This wrinkled, ruddy infant--
Can He be the seed of the woman,
the serpent-slayer;
the seed of Abraham,
the nations' blessing;
the seed of the shepherd singer,
the forever ruler?

Behold the Lamb of God
In a feed trough,
The Shepherd of Israel
Adored by shepherds,
The Word "without whom nothing"
Made wordless flesh,
The light of our shadowlands
Bathed in starlight.

And for what? Why did very God forsake
The splendor of His majesty?
For grace,
For love,
For kindness,
For my salvation He appeared,
For the pardon of this traitor heart,
For the redemption of this rebel sinner.

For the joy of my rescue
The King of kings became a ragamuffin
That I might become royalty.

Son of God, Son of Mary,
Swaddled Savior,
Messiah in a manger,
Glorious grace-giver.
I believe;
Help my unbelief.


He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:11-12, ESV).

Instead of Worrying, Ask

As I was worrying through my prayer time this morning, God so graciously reminded me that the antidote to worry is to ask, to ask in prayer, to ask with thanksgiving. His promises are so generous and kind. Daily bread, wisdom, forgiveness, intercession, love--all these and more He promises, but He does invite us to ask.

What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
~Matthew 7:9-11, HCSB

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5, HCSB

What then are we to say about these things?

If God is for us, who is against us?

He did not even spare His own Son,

but offered Him up for us all;

how will He not also with Him grant us everything?

~Romans 8:31-32, HCSB

Who can bring an accusation against God's elect?
God is the One who justifies.
Who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised;
He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.
~Romans 8:33-34, HCSB

Who can separate us from the love of Christ?

Can affliction or anguish or persecution

or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than victorious

through Him who loved us.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,

nor angels nor rulers,

nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing

will have the power to separate us

from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

~Romans 8:35,37-39, HCSB

Come and survey your Father's storehouse, and ask whether he will let you starve while he has laid up so great an abundance in his garner? Look at his heart of mercy; see if that can ever prove unkind! Look at his inscrutable wisdom; see if that will ever be at fault. Above all, look up to Jesus Christ your Intercessor, and ask yourself, while he pleads, can your Father deal ungraciously with you? If he remembers even sparrows, will he forget one of the least of his poor children? 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee. He will never suffer the righteous to be moved'" (C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening for this morning).

Giving thanks once again to the Giver of all good gifts, #2454-2469)...
Jesus, the best Gift of all
God's gentleness even in correcting me
Two hugs from an unexpected encounter with our little neighbor when I asked the Father to send me one today
Gifts wrapped and tucked beneath the tree
Disappointments for loved ones and
Inability to fix their circumstances myself
A family friend's courage to choose truth
Christmas cards from old friends
Real mail from online friends :)
Emailed prayers
Grace words in text messages
New haircut possibly salvaging Romans 7 hair decade year (You know, Romans 7:15.  The good that I would [it] will not do, and the evil that I would not, that [it] does.)
Good lab results for friends
Middle-of-the-night grace, a Helper who does not slumber or sleep (Psalm 121)
Husband home all weekend
Help to make one batch of toffee (with some to send to my Nonni)