Christmas Eve, Every Day!

My Friend,

It’s Christmas Eve and you may recall what it was like as a child as you waited in anticipation for all that Christmas day would bring?! You may have lost some sleep too due to the excitement! :-)

This brings to mind the many who were waiting in anticipation for the Messiah’s arrival, and they waited…for years.

I wonder what the anticipation must have been like!? Was it like Simeon that we learn about in Luke 2 who had been waiting his entire life for The Messiah? 

And then Jesus arrived the wait was over! What a day for Simeon that was and especially after The Holy Spirit showed Hi that he would not see death before he’d seen Christ! Then when Simeon met him face to face, he praised God! (See Luke 2:25-35)

Now as followers of Christ the wait is over! We’ve received His free gift of salvation!

We know and celebrate Jesus, The Messiah’s birth during Christmas an all year through. We don’t have to wait to receive Him, Worship Him, and walk with Him as He is The Messiah!

As we prayerfully live life with a childlike faith, it occurred to me that we can basically have a “Christmas Eve” every day as we anticipate and look forward to each new day to celebrate, walk with, grow in, and do life together with Jesus. 

We can meet Him daily through seeking Him through prayer, studying His Word, serving Him will our entire being, and walking in and being filled with His Holy Spirit. 

May you go to sleep and rise to greet each day with the blessed anticipation of meeting with Jesus, walking with Jesus, and serving Him. He’s our eternal gift that we get to appreciate each day.

I pray you have a wonderful Christmas, and may the light of Christ shine brightly in and through you each days as you live to do His will for all for His Kingdom and Glory!

Lastly, here's a special brief Christmas greeting from my heart to you: https://youtu.be/wY_xHsEFWR0

You're in my prayers.

Your Brother and Servant In Christ,
Randolph Koch

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A Father's Day Reflection: Praising God for Being The Perfect and Loving Father

Read: 1 John 1:9, Colossians 1:13-14, Psalm 103:12, John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Psalm 86:15, John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:18-19, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Ephesians 1:4-6, Galatians 4:4-5, Romans 8:15, John 15:15, Romans 5:1, 1 Corinthians 12:27, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 8:31-39, 2 Timothy 1:7,  John 15:16, 1 Corinthians 3:16,Ephesians 2:10, 1 John 3:1

BOOM....there it is again. The feeling of pain, grief, loss, brokenness and potentially a multitude of other feelings that may flood one's heart, mind and emotions. 
All is well for a period of time and then something such as a holiday or other memory sparks the before mentioned emotions.

No matter how it came about, this is often what it is like for those who largely grew up without a father and or mother. 

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer for Remembering Who My Help Is - Psalm 121:1-2 - Monday, May 30, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting prayers especially for moms and this post is the final post in this series! I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! Here's the final prayer for this month through Psalm 121:1-2.

Psalm 121:1-2

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your truth, for building me up and daily transforming me as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who You are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my true source of help! Thank You Father! 

                                                                                                               

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

Heavenly Father, You're Word is true. Your Word gives me hope and a deeper connection and direction with You day-to-day as Your daughter and servant and as a mom. 

Parenting / being a mom sometimes is a challenge as I work to help my children grow each day and navigate life but I know You equip me and strengthen me for each unique circumstance. 

When troubled times come - no matter what it is or what shape or size it's packaged in, help me to lift my eyes up to You.  

Help me to fix my eyes on You and not my circumstances.

Help me to teach my children to do the same as I am a living example for them.

Help me to rely on Your strength at all times. 

From where does my help come?

Father, when my vision gets blurry and I need Your help...please remind me to turn to You.

If I ever question, help me to seek answers from You!

Help me seek answers in Your Word. 

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Father, I'm overwhelmed by Your love! I'm in awe of You as You're The Creator of Heaven and Earth yet... you still have time for me!

Please help me to remember where my help comes from as sometimes I lose sight of You...I lose sight of the truth.

When the bills are due...Help me cling to Your help.

When my child is getting sick in the middle of the night...Help me to cling to Your help. 

When I'm dealing with parenting issues...Help me cling to Your help.

When I have no energy left in me...Help me to cling to Your help.

No matter what I face...please help me / us to cling to Your help!

Please help my children do the same...again as You help me model this day-to-day!

Help me to continue to marvel at Your amazing handiwork. 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in Jesus Name, Amen.

Dear Moms:

I pray this Month's prayers through a different Psalm has been an encouragement and blessing for you. 

It's been a privilege to pray along with you and try to encourage you along the way. 

Keep striving to continue to be the awesome servant of the Lord and mom that you are!

Thank you for all you do as you're family wouldn't be where they are without your tireless efforts!

In Christ Alone,

rlk

Share this encouragement with someone today: Jesus is my true source of help! Lord help me lift up my head & fix my eyes on You! Read Psalm 121:1-2 ashepherdsheart.org

A Prayer For Moms - A Prayer for seeking my Hiding Place - Psalm 32:7 - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

To honor moms during the Month of May, I'm posting prayers especially for moms! The plan is to pray through a different Psalm each week. I pray it ministers to you in a special way! Thank you for all you do! This week here's a prayer for you through Psalm 32:7.

Psalm 32:7

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your truth, for building me up and daily transforming me as a mom and as Your Daughter as I read Your truth and pray through it. I thank You and praise You for Who You are,  for loving me unconditionally and for being my hiding place and deliverer! Thank You Father! 

You are a hiding place for me;

Stress abounds sometimes as I work hard as a mom...as I work hard for the family You've blessed me with. It's very chaotic sometimes too! 

I can make a list of things that keep me awake at night but You already know them well. 

Some days when it's tough I literally want to run and hide sometimes. 

I confess that I get overwhelmed at times and I know I need to reach out for help from You as well as others You've placed in my life. Help me to do just that!

Help me Father remember that I don't need to run and hide from anything anymore, but, I do need to run to You only. 

Before You drew me to Yourself and saved me, to run and hide could have been a natural reaction, however, now I don't have to run and hide anymore...thanks, praise and glory be unto You!

Help me to remember that I have nothing to fear but only everything to gain as I'm Your daughter and cling to You as my refuge - my one true hiding place!  Give me the courage to run to you! 

Help me to remember that I can share anything with You my hiding place! 

you preserve me from trouble;

Father, I'm reminded that You never promise that our lives will be free from trouble. In fact the opposite is promised...we will experience trouble.

Well, trouble comes in waves as I deal with parenting issues. 

When I deal will discipline and behavior issues...

When I deal with homework issues...

When I deal with health issues...

When I deal with relationship issues...

When I deal with issues...a multitude of issues!

Through each circumstance - please help guide me with wisdom and preserve/protect me from trouble.

Please preserve my family and I from trouble. 

Please preserve my children from trouble. 

Please Preserve me while going through trouble. 

you surround me with shouts of deliverance. 

Father, When I face hard times and when You bring me through the other side to victory, I often forget to praise You. 

Sometimes I may even forget to give You credit for all You've done to deliver me from what I went through!

I know I need to praise You through every season no matter what I face. Help me to praise You and give You Glory!

Help me to give You credit always

I pray that even when I'm in the midst of the chaos and trouble that You surround me with the truth of Your Word and help me shout a shout of deliverance knowing that You will deliver me according to Your will. 

Help me proclaim Your goodness and deliverance.

Help me proclaim Your power and might.

I thank You and Praise You for Your continued deliverance in my life! 

I praise You and thank You and I ask all these things in Jesus Name, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

rlk

Share this truth with someone today: God is my true hiding place and deliverer. Read Psalm 32:7 #ashepherdsheart ashepherdsheart.org