Tweeting for Jesus

Tweeting for Jesus to tune of Living for Jesus

Original Text: T. O. Chisholm

Tweaked by Jaye Martin : )
Music: C. Harold Lowden

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1. Tweeting for Jesus a life that is true;

striving to please Him in each tweet I do,

yielding allegiance, gladhearted and free,

this is my pathway of blessing to Thee.

Refrain:

O Jesus, Lord and Savior,

I give my tweets for Thee;

for thou, in thy atonement,

didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other master,

my heart shall be thy throne,

My tweets I give, henceforth to live,

O Christ for thee alone.

2. Tweeting for Jesus who died in my place,

bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace,

such love constrains me to answer His call,

follow His leading and tweet Him to all.

(Refrain)

3. Tweeting for Jesus wherever I am,

doing each update in His holy name,

willing to suffer affliction or loss,

deeming each tweet as a part of my cross.

(Refrain)

4. Tweeting for Jesus through earth's little while,

my dearest treasure, the light of his smile,

seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

Let's tweet for Jesus this new year! Happy New Year!

"For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus’ life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh" (1 Corinthians 4:11, HCSB).

Better than New Years' Resolutions

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions. Don't get me wrong I am all about watching your life closely. I just happen to think it should happen more than once a year and with a good deal more follow through than the typical New Years' Resolution usually receives. After all, Paul instructs via the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 4:16 "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." Of course in context Paul is writing his beloved child in the faith Timothy who is ministering to God's flock. Certainly though this truth has application for us in 2010. We want to be women who watch over the affairs of our life with care knowing that there is much at stake. We are not pastors, but we are women whom God has called, gifted, & entrusted a great deal to. How we do life & how we teach matter because these are the things that will lead people to growth & even salvation by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The question at hand is will we be faithful with what has been entrusted?

You see, I think I've discovered something far better than a New Years' resolution...Jesus' redemption & life changing power. This is what I mean, what if instead of making a resolution to lose ten pounds, be a better person, or do more...what if you made a total heart, mind, life shift? What if you went at the year seeking to obey Jesus out of the great love you have for Him? Instead of focusing on your physical body and seeking to achieve some worldly standard of good looks, what if you focused on your stomach not becoming your god and even worship Jesus as you exercise? What if the motivation was that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, so you're going to make a shift in what you put inside of it so that your body can be better equipped to serve & love Jesus? What if you decided to saturate yourself with God's Word and determined to memorize a chapter of Scripture (this is a personal passion, memorizing passages of His Word, not just a verse here and there) so that you may not sin against God? How different would your year be then and not just your year but your life in general? Maybe, just maybe, if we didn't focus on being more productive but focused on sitting with Jesus and discerning & proving what His will is we'd find that busyness is not godliness. And we're far more "productive" walking in the path He has ordained for us than we are running around like chicken with our head cut off, you know what I'm saying? What if your aim was redirected toward heaven and focused on Jesus not on earthly things?

My prayer is that this resonates with you...this change in thinking. And don't get me wrong if you want to make a New Years' resolution that's just fine, but I'd rather Christ make a life change. I think if you accept this challenge...a slight but certain shift in thinking...your 2010 would be far different.

Don't just make a New Years' Resolution. Ask Jesus to change your entire life!

something new!

"This is what the Lord says - who makes a way in the sea, and a path through surging waters... Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." -Isaiah 43:15, 19 (HCSB)

There is a beauty in things that are new. Like a fresh snowfall or a new day planner, it is like a breath of fresh air to be able to start again with a blank slate. Jesus, Our Savior, came to save us. And we are able to live for Him. As we prepare to leap into a new year, He is able to help us start fresh and live with Him as our leader. How will we respond? He is waiting with open arms, so we have a choice of whether or not to follow Him. Will we choose to follow His lead?

In Isaiah, Chapter 43, we see how He asks us to put our trust in Him. He is under control and can help us start fresh if we let Him. Our Savior, who we celebrated over Christmas, is here to take us into the new year. He has given us the Holy Spirit inside of us, to guide us and help us lead others to Him.

What will be our focus in the new year? Are our plans the same as His?

I pray that we focus on our Savior and that others may see this and come to know Him, too, in the new year.

Happy New Year's Eve!

Finish the Race

"But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace" (Acts 20:24, HCSB).

I am not a good finisher. Some are good at working hard and running the race, some good at finishing what they started. I'm good at starting things and never finishing...which is not-so-good. I have so many projects that are incomplete right now. Our remdeling of the master suite remains ongoing so that is certainly something that needs to be finished. The Christmas decorations are ready to be put up. There are working things like syllabi to be done and emails to be sent. I have writing to do and other ministry projects just hanging. And dare I even mention the dreaded dissertation that needs to be finished?!

It is so easy to lose focus and yet Paul tells us in Acts 20 to finish the course that the Lord has called us to. I must count my life of no value and charge head to do the main thing. I must finish what He called me to start and to leave the rest. I must put aside everything that keeps me from doing my ministry.

In the next few days, I will complete my priority list for 2010. It will be a private list of the essential things that I know that the Lord is calling me to do. This list will not be a list for debate but a list that I will commit to and keep plugging away at until they are complete. The next few days will also be a time for me to finish what I started this year (2009). Just as I must start the new year well, I must finish some things already started.

I pray that the Lord will guide us all as we finish this year of commitment and begin the process of starting a new one. May He lead you every step of the way as we know Him, share Him, and lead others to do the same.

The Day After Christmas

The lights are still up & so is the tree and if your home is anything like mine that tree is NOT coming down until January 2. Christmas decor must be maximized beause once January hits December will be yet again be 12 months away. For many the end of Christmas marks a time of sadness. The birth of Christ has been celebrated time and again as well it should be & even continuously in our hearts! Santa is gone...never mind the fact that he doesn't exit ;) The presents are opened...there's nothing like the joy of wondering what's in the wrapping paper. The celebration is nearly over...the New Year is just around the bend. But I write you this day to remind you that those of us who are in fact in Christ need NOT let the end of white lights, busy nights, the closure of parties with too much food get us down. In all seriousness, if we are in Christ there's much left to look forward to. I'm not a faithful Twitter girl, but I did spy this completely true tweet that I read more than a few times. Perhaps it will be an encouragement to you as well. It is from Dr. Albert Mohler: "is thankful that as Christmas comes 2its inevitable close, Christ's coming looms in its inevitable glory.Come quickly,Jesus" The part that strikes a chord with my heart is the fact that "Christ's coming looms in its inevitable glory..." Dr. Mohler's reminder wasn't the only one I have received over the past few days. My handsome husband also reminded our family of this fact by taking us through the Word looking at the prophecies concerning our Savior. Christ indeed came & was born in Bethlehem, but my heart rejoices that Christ is coming again! Yes for those of us in Christ we are living for the upward call that has been placed on our lives (Philippians 3). We are living for something far better than the rest, that is for the glory of our coming King. As we bid Christmas farewell...let's pray our Savior comes ever nearer. For who would die for a sinner? And who would have the power to raise from the dead? Only Christ Jesus our Lord. Let's continue to celebrate this fact day after day...even as Christmas & Easter pass by year after year.

From my family to yours: Merry Christmas & Happy New Year...all praise, honor, glory be to our Lord Jesus all the time!

a flicker of candlelight

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrifired. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:8-12).

Today, there will be many candlelight services held at churches around the world. These times give us the opportunity to soak up the moment and remember Jesus, who was born that starry night years ago.

What does Jesus' birth story mean to us today? When the angels came to declare the news of Jesus' birth, the shepherds responded in fear. It may be unavoidable to be in awe of God when His glory is shown, as we can see when we read stories from Moses and Paul (found in Exodus 3 and Acts 22:1-16).

Yet, as the angels told, we do not need to be afraid, since God has sent His Son, Jesus, to save us! We are able to rejoice with this good news and be filled with joy, becuase Jesus was sent to forgive us and bring us closer to God. I pray wherever we are today that we are able to not be overcome with fear but swelling with thankfulness of His Son who came to save us. Not everyone knows the story of God's love, so let us spread this, "good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

"Silent Night" by Sixpence None the Richer music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ml_YbgJsQ

What Was "The Breaking News" 2 Days Before Christmas?

"And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn."Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the inn."

Luke 2:4-7 (HCSB)

On the eve before the eve before Christmas what was the breaking news as Mary & Joseph anticipated the joyous birth of our One and ONLY SAVIOR?

Oh how I hoped I could report to you that it was the news that everyone was "getting ready" for the greatest event of all events!

Oh how I hoped I could report to you that there was a baby shower like no other baby shower taking place to welcome The King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Oh how I hoped I could report to you that everyone was full of belief and anticipation as a donkey slowly was making its way down to Bethlehem with a highly respected woman riding that donkey, which would of been very special in her day because usually the man rode the donkey and the woman followed along on foot behind him...then the real breaking news that people may have talking about comes clear, do you hear their whispers?...look at this woman, she is great with child, she is not married, she she she...then we can understand what the breaking news, that was really "gossip", 2 days before Christmas.

As we prepare to worship and celebrate the birth of Our Savior, people are "gathering" near and far, it's been said that "all hearts come home for Christmas"...I pray that my Christmas Celebration will cause me to become more like JESUS! God calls us daily to "come home" to return to Him in every area of our lives!

It's been said that "Wise Men/Women Still Seek Him"...do you see what I see? Are we seeking what God would want us to be seeking? Who has God put in the path of our lives that is seeking for meaning, purpose, belonging...Christmas is the GREATEST time to SHARE JESUS with people that are NEEDY & LOST and trying to fill all of the deep voids of their life with the things this world offers......Let's start right here right now and turn away from anything that could be "old news" in our lives and "return home" to JESUS and take as many other people with us as we can!!!

Now that is the GREATEST BREAKING NEWS that could ever happen 2 Days Before Christmas:-)! GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST & PEACE BE WITH YOU as we all strive to have PEACE WITH GOD & THE PEACE OF GOD!!!!! God Made A Way In A Manger!!!!!!

WE WORSHIP YOU CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOR FOR MAKING A WAY FOR US IN A MANGER!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwe7GDl9-04 (He Made a Way in a Manger!!!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGq5dAuMaEU (This Is My Desire...The Real Meaning of Christmas!!!!)

Merry Christmas!