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Noel Noel, Have you seen what God has done?

Can you feel it in your heart

Christmas time- a special part.

Consolation has come for Israel

That Prophets of old did foretell

 

Do you feel Him in your heart

Immanuel, Salvations start

Gabriel’s news to Mary he gave

Birth of Messiah, born to save

 

God has come in flesh to dwell

Heavens glory did show and tell

About Messiah and His entrance

A virgin shall give birth, To His preeminence

 

Hearts will break, mankind bend at knee

Giving thanks when they believe

The time is come for God’s own plan

Eternity set in the heart of man

 

No more to sing Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel-

The Lord was born at Migdol Eder

He has come to save us from our sin

And of His kingdom there shall be no end

 

Poem written by Laurette Laster © 2017

 

 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

 

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  (Luke 1-31-33 NKJV)

 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

I pray that as we get closer to Christmas Day, that the heart and spirit of Christmas is more alive in our hearts than ever. My prayer is that we would share the love of God through Jesus Christ to a lost soul or to a soul who doesn’t understand The Gift. The One true gift that has been given to all who would receive. Scripture tells us that for the joy that was before Him, Jesus willingly endured the cross. Joy often isn’t in the circumstances, it is in realizing the plan of God without limits. What a gift we have received. Can you feel it in your heart?

Come and see what God has done.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

Peace on Earth

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14 NKJV)

God You are better than remarkable

You make perfection shine

For in Your light we see light

Without You we stumble and are blind

 

For the darkness cannot hide

Your Love and Grandeur Heights

For You Oh God are searching

Circling as an orbiting satellite

 

We are not hidden from Your sight

From Your love and tender care

If we make our bed in hell

Scripture tells us You are there

 

So at this special season

When gifts are being given

I have my online order ready

I am sending it to You in heaven

 

Is it too late for first class delivery

From Your heart to their address

You know the ones I pray for

I am partial, yes I must confess

 

I think they’ll be amazed

When they see it is from You

They’ve been so hurried this season

With all the things, so much to do

 

What is the perfect gift this year

Peace, yes like the hush of angel’s wings

And oh how their spirits will soar

With hearts set free to sing

 

Oh You are delivering the gift in person

Why of course, I’m not surprised

Why didn’t I think of this

Placed right before their eyes

 

Thank You Lord for taking

My online order this late

I know it’s so close to Christmas

I adore how You relegate

 

Thank You for Special Delivery

Upgraded at no extra cost

Free for returning customers

Wow! Personalized and embossed

 

When they see their name

Written in Your palm

May their hearts soak in

Christmas peace and healing balm

 

The gift that last forever

Offering hope to one and all

Yes Jesus was delivered for us

Peace on earth, Christmas altar call

 

 

© laurette laster

 

I pray for you and yours this Christmas, that you have the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Peace On Earth, Goodwill toward men on who His favor rest.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening for me. Laurette

 

 

 

 

The Lord God sanctify in your hearts. And be ready always for defense to every one who is asking of you an account concerning the hope this is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15 YLT)

Don’t keep Christmas in the closet
Don’t store it away for months
Keep it out in the open
Let’s decide this now for once

For God does nothing in secret
Though at first we may not understand
But if we continue on in faith
We shall see the work of His hands

It is the most wonderful time
The most celebrated season
But we should take an account
And remember ‘Jesus’ is the reason

So do not put The Lord away
And store Him out of sight
Oh no we must tell of His wondrous works
While it is day and not the night

Yes He was born as a Babe
Humbled Himself as a Servant
But that is not all we know
To those who are observant

Yes Christmas was heralded
From the perfect Angelic chorus
So don’t put Christmas away
Keep our soon coming King before us

I shall not store Christmas away
And I encourage you each to search
In Luke, Isaiah, then Mathew
Each describes His miraculous birth

Oh but that is not all there is more
In every book you can find
That Christmas was forever
And was foremost on God’s mind

Do not put Christmas away
It is the most wonderful time of the year
Keep it magnificently lighted
And displayed from ear to ear

For The Gift that keeps on giving
We can share in daily amounts
Our Hope is in Jesus at Christmas
Are you prepared to give an account

© laurette laster

This morning after praying and reading as I was preparing to get the remainder of my decorations out of storage and decorate our tree, this poem poured out. Yes we have seasonal decorations that point to this time, but the hope we have is eternal and never to be stored away.

Greg and I were discussing yesterday that so many families have forgotten and many have been robbed of the gift of togetherness. Have you noticed how broken and fractured we have become?  Families have suffered a major blow and it is now generational.

We have replaced “The Gift”, with gifts? Gifts that do not and cannot offer eternal value? Greg heard yesterday that 1/5 of the United States of America is depressed, and that suicide is at an all time high in our Nation and this isn’t new news.  The opioid epidemic is a result of untreatable pain. Yet doctors continue to prescribe what they can, or what they hope will offer some relief, even if it is short term relief. Those struggling, find themselves running from doctor to doctor looking for hope. They are asking questions that physicians answer by prescribing yet another pill. These are substitute remedies that we all know are time released and not lasting. Questions are asked like; what will it take to make me feel better? How can I overcome these defeating thoughts? Make me better; give me something to stop this pain, and this insanity. All the while they grope on without hope. I know that there are chemical imbalances that require medication. For those of you who need these medications, you should without a doubt take them as prescribed by a licensed physician. I am not referring to medically diagnosed mental health issues. What I am referring to is the hopeless heart. I am talking about the heart in need of a touch by The Gift of God. The Gift of God is eternal and offers hope for those in need of forgiveness, salvation, sanctification, and wholeness.

I encourage myself and you also, for us to keep the main thing, the main thing. In the corporate world we used to say; “do not major on the minors.” Don’t let the cares of this world drag you away from what is important and needful.

We tend to get so busy during Christmas that we forget where we stored the real miracle of His birth. I pray we open our hearts and pour out our worship to our King.

I pray you take some extra time during these remaining two weeks and have a coffee break with Jesus. Tell Him how much you appreciate the gift of Christmas, the Gift that lasts and continues to give forever. He came to suffer and to die that we may have The Gift of Christmas Eternally.

Can we agree this year to keep CHRIST mas displayed from ear to ear, and from year to year?  For as long as there is life, there is hope for those who are afar off. I pray for you that The Blessed Hope of our Savior Jesus Christ, fill your hearts and homes this Christmas. May He be alive and evident in your heart, in your home, and on your face, so that others will ask, what is this Hope you have? And we will be ready to give an account.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

 

 

 

Creation and creatures applaud You, God; Your holy people bless You. (Psalm 145:10 MSG)

Have you ever just stopped

And simply took a pause

Considered the works of His hands

And wanted to stand up in applause

 

How can we magnify

And make Him known

How can we applause

For all that He has shown

 

I began to ponder

So I asked Him about this

His answer was soft

But came ever so swift

 

Your life is My applause

That is your praise

You can applaud Me

With your hands raised

 

While in prayer

On bended knee

When I see you like this

You are applauding Me

 

I’ve given you instruments

Of melody and percussion

When in use you applaud loudly

It endears heavenly discussion

 

So there is not a set formula

It is a heart motivation

So join me today as we give

Our Lord a standing ovation

 

Break out in applause

Pray and dare to believe

Because when we applaud

Expectant hearts do receive

 

I want to applaud

From out of pure joy

With more than emotion

Or a thunderous roar

 

With a heart that beats

With a dance and rhythm

Because out of my being

I am God driven

 

So no matter the posture

No matter the sound

Applaud Him today

His goodness abounds

 

Shout to the world

The wonderful works He has done

Our applause is loudest

Bringing glory to The Son

© laurette laster

I will praise The Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Thank You Father, maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them, You are The LORD, who remains faithful forever. You uphold the cause of the oppressed and give food to the hungry. You set prisoners free, You give sight to the blind, You, The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down and You, The Lord loves the righteous. You watch over the alien and sustain the fatherless and the widow but frustrate the way of the wicked. Amen

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

May The Light and the miracle never dim. May we see plainly that The Light is walking among us even now.

 

 

There would only be enough oil

For just this one night

What would be the outcome

When the Menorah they did light

 

Once the flame was lit

Servant candle forever burning

Priest did tend the light of God

To this command concerning

 

What would they do

The dilemma and shortage

Only pure and sanctioned oil

Required to cleanse what has been distorted

 

What could they do

Yes, God and His commands

Did light the menorah

Saw the miracle by His Hands

 

For on this night

The oil did flow

So all could see

And all would know

 

There is a God in Israel

Miracle seen so all will know

Hanukkahs miracle of oil

Today does flow

 

In the faces of all who can see

Jesus, The Servant light of Menorah

The Light of God is ever brighter

Coming alive straight out of the Torah!

 

laurette laster © 2017

During the Maccabean revolt is recorded the miracle of Hanukkah. It was during the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.  We see in scripture that Jesus Christ was celebrating the Festival of Dedication during the winter.

John 10:22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in
Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around Him, saying, How long will keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.

I pray you see plainly your Messiah, which is Christ The Lord.

 

Revelation 1:10, 12-13 NOT

It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast.

 

When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.

Interesting readings.

http://www.bible-light.com/…/STAR_V30-1_1998-02/feb98a52.htm

 

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/…/Tet…/Menorah/menorah.html

The word of The LORD shall stand forever

 

 

The leaves have fallen seasons change is here

Thanksgiving now over Christmas holiday so near

Remember the reason and be fully present

Never give up pull back or become hesitant

 

The holiday blues are sure to pass you by

If you’re determined to do this and not just try

For try never accomplished not one thing

Just fills us full with regret leaves us wondering

 

The spirit of the holidays is for pouring out love

Just as we were shown from heaven above

Rejoicing and sharing out of our abundance

It’s the measure of our heart – never redundant

 

If you find you are lonely and start to feel blue

Look around and you’ll find someone who

Has need of much and is lacking provision

Then simply turn and make this decision

 

It is more blessed to give than it is to receive

It works different in ‘The kingdom’ for those who believe

For when we love and do good to all people

We act as the church not merely a building with a steeple

 

Laurette Laster © 2017

 

 

Matthew 25:40 NIV

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

 

Galatians 6:10 NIV

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

 

Hebrews 13:2

Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

 

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom!

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

That the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Child of God

How you grow

Child of God

Do you know

 

Child of God

Stay the course

Until the day

You find The Force

 

Young man of God

My how you’ve grown

Young man of God

Coming into your own

 

Young man of God

He has invested in you

Warrior on the inside

Coming into view

 

Young woman of God

My how you’ve bloomed

Young warrior of God

Always make room

 

Young woman of God

The Lord has gifted you

Young princess warrior

You recognize it too

 

Mighty man of valor

God loves a return

On His investment

Continue to yearn

 

Mighty gentleman of God

With you well pleased is He

You’ve lived your life

To see others set free

 

Mentoring and helping

Being strong safe arms

For those young men

Who’ve dealt with harm

 

Mighty woman of God

Oh look at the fruit

For His investment

He will compute

 

Mighty woman of God

My how you’ve sown

The kingdom of God

Many others call home

 

Men and women of God

Don’t you dare give in

No matter the battle

It is for God we win!

 

The fields indeed are bright

White now unto harvest

The work looked futile

When it was the farthest

 

Man and woman of God

Look around what do you see

Return on the Fathers investment

Forever and always, eternal equity

 

© laurette laster

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

 

I will give You thanks as long as I live; I will raise my hands to You in prayer. (Psalm 63:4 GNT) Blessings over you, your tables and your families.

Turkey and Dressing

And pumpkin pie

Giblet gravy and fixings

My oh my

I love all the food

I have a traditional twist

But where shall we go

To make our gratitude list

The table of course

We gather not scatter

It is family time spent

That truly matters

Maybe your family

Is not so traditional

Whatever you do

Make it conditional

Conditioned and slathered

Covered with love

Overflowing with thankfulness

Because we have a part of

Making this world

A better place

Wouldn’t it be heartbreaking

Yes, even a disgrace

To not set aside

A determined time

To be eternally grateful

I think it would be a crime

You can be the one

To make the change

Set a table

Invite the gang

Invite the crew

Gather around

Start the list

Of blessings that abound

List at least one

Of the blessings you have

You’ll find countless others

There are so many to add

I know of one thing

That God has blessed you with

May I help you start

Your gratitude list

I thank The Lord for you

The breath in your lungs

Now go ahead

Your turn, take the plunge

Make a list

Check it twice

I am so grateful

For this life

Filled with you my friends

Those that have gathered here

I wish you all

A Great-ful Thanksgiving this year.

laurette laster © 2018 Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I pray you have a gratitude list that reaches higher than high. In the event you do not, may I suggest you start one today. Sow it forward as a word of knowledge.

Many years ago, during the early months, when I was starting over after a divorce, I would be overcome with feelings and emotions of fear, seemingly out of nowhere. These emotions would come over me totally unexpected, at the most inconvenient times.  These were panic attacks I would later find out.  I knew if I entertained these feelings and emotions they had the propensity to send me running back to the dysfunction I had escaped from. I really respect those who have never been plagued with these sort of feelings, but for those of us that have, you know what I’m talking about. No one else, except those very close to me even noticed.

A friend once told me a story, one I had already heard. This friend felt the need to remind me about the story. I will say I know this was a divine encounter to help me realize what was going on.  The story is about horses trapped in stalls in a barn that had caught on fire. A man driving home one night saw the barn on fire, and knew that this barn held very expensive horses. He knew he had to do something, so the man made the decision to go into the burning barn to lead the horses to safety. This man risk all he had to go and rescue these horses, and get them away from the burning barn and save their lives. The only problem was that the man didn’t realize he would have to get them to a place where they were confined. Why? Because in the fear and anxiety, when he released the horses, now having them a safe distance away from the burning barn, they being frightened and confused and disoriented turned and ran back into the burning barn and burned to death. They went back to the familiar even though it was no longer safe. God in His goodness will send us a word in due season. So I realized I had to do something. I had to fight fire with water. The water of the word.

I began to pray for others as if the feelings were not mine alone but theirs also. I began to lift up prayers for those who were afraid of the future, and those who felt they were all alone. I prayed for the lonely, the hurting, the guilty, the ones who felt victimized and for those who didn’t know how to trust The One who gave it all to rescue me, oh I mean them, (you know). I recently learned this is sending it forward, as a word of knowledge. I had been led by Holy Spirit to do this so many years ago. Thank you Lord for getting me at a safe distance and for confining me, even though I believe You tricked me.  I now tell others, Jehovah Sneaky is His other name.

I am thankful I didn’t run back and I pray you never do either. Remember The Mighty Oak you see today was once a little nut who stood it’s ground. And we shall be called  oaks of righteousness, a planting of The Lord for the display of His splendor. (Isaiah 61:3 NIV)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His holy name.

With praise I have found the key
Gratitude fans into flame
Because when we are grateful
We bring honor to Your name

 

If I were to count my blessings
Name them one by one
Where would I begin
And number the vast sum

 

When my heart was broken
Hurting and in despair
It was then He was the closest
I felt His tender loving care

Looking back at all those times
How foolish I had been
His tender conviction toward me
Was lovingly ushering me in

When I was most ignorant
Blindly going my own way
You never once condemned
Patiently waiting as if to say

Don’t you see your error
These ways lead only to death
When you have had enough
Stop and take a breath

Use your words for praise
That’s how genuine gratitude grows
It is how it works in My kingdom
It is how My grace does flow

I love a cheerful giver
I delight in a merry heart
Tell Me again you know My Grace
Gave you a brand new start

Your goodness oh God, immeasurable
How can we be so blind
To think You’re not helping
What will it take for us to find

Open our eyes to see
Give us ears that hear
Your goodness I shall tell
To all that will come near

I am so grateful for Your love
I am thankful for Your care
But most of all I thank You
Because You were always there

I’m thankful for your mercy
When I deserved the worst
Forever changed and protected
Blessed now totally immersed

The doors that You have opened
Instructed only to knock
What I thought was withheld
Simply needed to be unlocked

With praise I have found the key
Gratitude fans into flame
Because when we are grateful
We bring honor to Your name

I thank You Lord my Savior
From the bottom of my heart
May my gratitude never be silenced
From beginning of new days start

And as my day progresses
Should life begin to unravel
Remind me again of Your love
As along life’s road we travel

If not for Your untold goodness
And love for all lost sinners
We wouldn’t have had a chance
Because we once were all beginners

Remind us to be examples
With our unending Gratitude
Because You Father look on the heart
And it is made evident by our attitude

© laurette laster 2018

 

I’m sure each of us has that “___________” event or situation where we know that God in His goodness saved us from ourselves and from death. Many of us, I for sure, have situations where I know God saved my life.

This Thanksgiving I am very grateful for so many things. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am even thankful for enemies who cause me to press into God and check myself and my motives periodically. I am grateful and thankful that I have a roof over my head, food for my table, food to share with others, running water, a vehicle, and the ability to serve The Lord openly. The list could go on and on. Like in the stanza above, who could list the vast sum of blessings we have?

No, I do not have everything I want, because what I want the most isn’t a physical or a material need. I have every material blessing I need. That doesn’t mean I have no wants or that I will not get more, it just means I am not ’in need’ of any material thing.

My greatest desires involve others. My deepest desire is for my family and loved ones to be healed and whole, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally, mind, body, and soul. I pray they know and trust and serve The Lord with gladness and with their whole hearts. I desire like minded friends. Not friends who are like me, but friends who love The Lord, and want His will to be done in their lives and the lives of others. I am thankful and I am blessed. Who in their right mind wouldn’t love and serve The Lord?

Years ago, during a very difficult time emotionally in my life, The Lord notified me of something I had not thought of.  It’s not like I didn’t know what He told me. And yes it was very true; I had just never put it in proper perspective. Isn’t it funny how God wants to keep our perspectives straight? Returning home from work one evening while pulling into my secure garage, complete with a new garage door opener I had professionally installed, He spoke these words in my spirit; you park your car in a better place than many people live. Wow. That will make you reconsider your gratitude list. Yes I am thankful, even for a garage to park my car in? You bet I am.

In my life I have worried about whether a loved one would continue to fight to live. I have worried about addiction (mine and others) ruining lives and families. I have worried if there would be enough money to pay the bills, because someone else didn’t share my same value system. I have faced real issues. When I left my dysfunctional marriage where most of my fears were rooted, I found hope. I put my trust completely in The Lord and stepped out on faith to believe He; God could and would restore my life. I met a very real, kind, loving, compassionate, forgiving, jealous God. I met a God who wanted to be my Father. He is a Father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow, kind of God. I came face to face with a tenderhearted God who forgives all our inequities. All? Yes All! Today I have faith and trust in my loving heavenly Father, He hears my prayers. He cares about me.  Jesus talking; therefore I tell you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Can any one of you by worrying add one single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25, 27 NIV)

In Philippians we are told; Rejoice in the Lord always, I will it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)

 

Shout for joy to The LORD, all the earth. Worship The LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs, knowing that The LORD God, It is He who made us, and we are His, we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, give thanks to Him and praise His Holy Name. (Psalm 100:1-4 NIV)

 

I say let’s Rejoice and I say again; Rejoice. Come into His courts with thanksgiving and praise. For God is faithful and worthy to be praised. In all situations, not for all situations, I shall praise Him and lift my hands.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Lauette