I have had that nasty virus that has been making the rounds, 
so my wings have been clipped and I have had to stay close to home. Yuk!

So with dread and a bad attitude…I set my sites on a horrible job that needing doing many moons ago…
a chore I have put off for years…the task of cleaning up piles of files and desk drawers. 
Although I must share that the years of items left for a rainy day were amazing!

“A moment of prayerful reflection can prevent a lifetime of bitter regret.”
Woodrow Kroll

I took a journey through the milestones of my past…some were good and solid…things that put a smile on your face. 
The stuff that you say with a thankful heart…Thank you Lord for the opportunity to have made a difference and 
to have shared special moments in the life of someone else.

And other events are those that bring a tear or a sense of shame…
Did I mention that this was 24 years of stuff?
Give me a little grace here... 
I have been busy with life. 
Anyway it was quite a ride of emotions and reflection. 

Joshua 1:9, 
“I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. 
Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! 
I am the Lord your God, 
and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” 
(CEV)

I am glad I took the time to see…
Who I was
Where I had been and
What has my life meant so far.

2 Corinthians 5:17,
“Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah,
he is a new creation —
the old has passed;
look, what has come is fresh and new!
Complete Jewish Bible 
(CJB)

Now I can look to the future with a view of…
Who I want to be
Where I want to go and
The impact I would like to have.

Jeremiah 29:11 
“I alone know the plans I have for you, 
plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, 
plans to bring about the future you hope for.” 
(GNT)

 

Prayer:

Father, give me the wisdom to move forward…
freeing me from the past that hinders. 
Instead give me the courage to be the child of God you created me to be. 
Full of love for you that pours out into the lives of others. 
Thank you Lord for hearing my prayer, 
for holding my hand and guiding my steps…
May 2015 be the best yet for all of us! 
Amen

Caprice <><

Dear Lord,

I praise you for your grace and Mercy to us…

You gave us the gift of your love through your son Emmanuel…God is with us.

How incredible your love and concern is!

My most sincere prayer this Christmas is for those who don’t know your joy and peace.

May the light of your love…illuminate their hearts…

that they may see who you are and reach out to take a hold of your precious gift of Jesus.

Please Father, I also lift up to you those whose faith is being challenged and persecuted. 
Keep them strong and under your wing.

To those of us who are celebrating Christ’s birth may we rejoice in the hope of your provision…that this…is not it…
Heaven is our home!

In the precious and powerful name of Jesus…Amen!

Merry Christmas,

Caprice <><

How would I describe joy?

It is that state of being in which a “delight”…
warms you from head to toe…

A warmth comes from the simplicity of
loving God and loving others.

The reason I can experience this special love is
I opened my “Christmas Gift”.

The gift of Jesus…

Isaiah 9:6,
“A child is born to us! A son is given to us! 
And he will be our ruler. He will be called,

“Wonderful Counselor,”

“Mighty God,”
“Eternal Father,”

“Prince of Peace.”
(GNT)

Joy is a result of our truly understanding the relationship
offered to us through a tiny babe in a manager.
 
Luke 2:8-14,
“There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood.
They had set night watches over their sheep.
Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and
God’s glory blazed around them.

They were terrified.

The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. 
I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is 
meant for everybody, worldwide:

A Savior has just been born in David’s town,
a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
This is what you’re to look for:
a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”

At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing

God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”
(MSG)

The God of creation, the all-knowing God…
provided us with a way to experience relationship with Him,
by sending His son to us.

The angel said,
“I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

That good news is the gift of God to us and it does provide great joy for those who believe!

Let’s remember to keep in step with the spirit this Christmas
and fill our hearts to overflowing with JOY!

In the harsh reality of a world gone mad with hate and confusion…
don’t let the Joy of loving God and loving others get lost.

The answer can only settle itself in four little words…

The JOY of JESUS!

Merry Christmas!

Caprice <><

Prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, we praise you and rejoice this Christmas for 
your gift to us in your precious son, Jesus, Emmanuel! 
God, you are truly with us and we are so grateful for your spirit and the gift that it gives through your power! 
Help us to keep your Joy at the center of our Christmas and to share that Joy with others. 
Father, I lift up to you those who are struggling this year to find joy amidst the pressures of this world. 
I pray that you give us all the ability to grab a hold of your hand in order to keep in step with your Spirit, 
so that we may embrace the fruit that your Spirit provides. 
In the name of Jesus we celebrate this Christmas! 
Amen.

Water is wet. 
It is a simple fact that water is wet. 
My husband and I were talking about God and his creation and his fingerprints that are all over 
everything that He has made, including life-giving water.

Ecclesiastes 11:5, “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” (NIV)

God has left his fingerprints all over this incredible world we call home! 
The evidence of him as master designer is everywhere! 
So Caprice, back to your opening statement, what does this have to do with water? 
Well, I have a challenge for you, are you ready? I want you to go and get a nice, cool, tall, fresh, pure glass of water. 
Okay, now I want you to take the wet, out of that glass of water. 
Well, how is it going?....Not too good?....Try one more time. 
The point here is; that I cannot take the wet out of water. 
If I could, I would be left without anything, water has the attributes and characteristics of being wet.
The same is true of God....God is the creator and master designer of all things. 
People try to take God out of things, but it doesn’t work. 
You see there is one common thread that people sometimes forget. 
Just like we know that water has certain qualities and principles, so does God. 
And one of the most important attributes of 
God...is love.

 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (GNT)

1 John 4:16, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 
God is love. 
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (NIV)

Jesus spoke the following verses to his disciples in the upper room at Passover, the eve of his arrest. These are his parting words of instruction to his beloved followers:

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: 
Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV)

So as those who believe and know God through the gift of his son Jesus, 
we understand that love must be part of who we become as we grow as believers and disciples. 
We must become love for others who do not know what God’s love is.

It is humble, and serves those who need serving. 
Love gives unconditionally, without expecting anything given in return. 
We show our love by looking into the interests of others above ourselves. 
Unselfish, kind, patient; God’s love is perfect! 
It is the reflection of the image of God. 
People will know that we truly believe that Jesus was the Son of God, if we love others like Jesus loves us. 
So just like you cannot take the wet out of water; as followers of Jesus... 
the attribute of love should be ever present in all that we do. 
Can anyone see anything but love in you as a believer? 
Are you a believer that follows the teachings of Jesus? 
Then you should be the example of God’s love. 
No one or...no thing should be able to separate or remove God’s love you’re your heart. 
God’s love should spill over from your heart and actions into the lives of others. 
Love should become the attribute and characteristic that marks you as a believer. 

Caprice <><

What is of importance to you?
To me one of the most valuable aspects of this life is my time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 
“Everything on earth
 has its own time
 and its own season. 
There is a time 
for birth and death,
 
planting and reaping, 
for killing and healing,
 
destroying and building, 
for crying and laughing,
 
weeping and dancing, 
for throwing stones 
and gathering stones,
 
embracing and parting. 
There is a time 
for finding and losing,
 
keeping and giving, 
for tearing and sewing,
 
listening and speaking.
 There is also a time 
for love and hate,
 
for war and peace.” (CEV)

So what are you doing with the time that God has given you?

Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to use wisely
 all the time we have.” (CEV)

Do you recognize, He who gives you life?

Job 33:4, “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (NIV)

Why not take a deep breath…inhale the precious gift of life…
Recognize, Rest and Restore yourself in the truth of God’s love…

Life is worth the Living!

Isaiah 42:5-8, “God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. 
He created the earth and everything in it. 
He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth.” (NLT)

The following is “Part 2”of an interview that I did last summer on the "The Barb Marshall Show" with Love your Life Ministries. I hope you enjoy a snap shot of my heart and how I have been carefully shaped and molded by the Lord.

Caprice <><
P.S. If for some reason you are unable to view this video go to the website below
www.crossroads-ukiah.org/womens-blog

Passion…a very strong enthusiasm that results in action.

When I think of the word Passion, I think of something that stirs emotion and devotion in the center of my heart, mind and soul.
 
Did you know that the word passion has its origin in the Latin pati; to suffer? 

“The Passion” is commonly referred to as the week from the Last Supper to the Crucifixion of Jesus.


Jesus was impassioned about his mission. He had a strong love for you and I, thus he stood in the gap by centering himself on the cross. The Father loves the Son; the Son loves you and I. Passion, a very strong enthusiasm that results in action.

What Love looks like?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

 “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.”

   Love never gives up.

   Love cares more for others than for self.

   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

   Love doesn't strut,

   Doesn't have a swelled head,

   Doesn't force itself on others,

   Isn't always "me first,"

   Doesn't fly off the handle,

   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

   Doesn't revel when others grovel,

   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

   Puts up with anything,

   Trusts God always,

   Always looks for the best,

   Never looks back,

   But keeps going to the end.”

1 Corinthians 13:1-9 The Message (MSG)

If I love like this I am passionate, living with devotion towards, God, you and myself.

Dear Lord, Help me to love you and others with a passionate excitement 
that results in the act of loving others like you love us…
Amen. 

What matters to you?

What is worth your energy and time?

Do you care about what comprises the essence of “you”?

I mean what is swirling around in that head and heart of yours?

Do you base who you are, by what you do?

So what are you doing?

Do you spend time in things that will improve who you are? 
Help you to make improvements in the place you call home?

How about the impact you may have on friends and family? Or are you hanging in the gutter of this world? 
Only you can truly answer these questions...God already knows.

So why not trust how Jesus replied when asked, “What is the most important life principle?”

Matthew 22:37-40, "Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (NLT)

It really is simple, if I love God with a passionate intelligence that is bathed in prayer, I will then be able to love others as well as I love myself.

This means I will look to what God has to say and teach me through the bible. I then will take active steps to live by “His Standard”, treating others the way I want to be treated…with Godly love. A “God-love” that does what is right, kind, considerate, not causing anyone to stumble.

Be careful this week, what you do impacts others more than you may realize. I will try too...I agree it is not always easy, but I know the God who helps those that seek.

Caprice <><