Getting to Move On in the Lord

Well, today I went to my old apartment to get the last of my belongings. There wasn’t a lot because my prayer partner had given away a lot of things. I did not have to go through much because she had everything organized for me to look at. All I had to do was make up my mind about what I would leave, and what I would take. It was so very easy. I thank God for her. Tomorrow we will start our journey back to home. For me, my new home with a new chapter in both my personal and ministry life. I look forward to the journey.

Looking At I Peter Again

Now that I am settling down in North Carolina, God has reminded me that I was studying I Peter. I turned to the first chapter to read a verse the other day. There is so much information about our salvation in it. I have decided to return to studying it and producing a study commentary. I hope to put the study commentary on my revamped website. I believe that I will gain more insight into these epistles.

Good Morning!

As I write this insert for today, I am once again in Connecticut. I am not in my hometown of New Haven. I am in Bristol, CT. When we saw the snow still on the ground, my second cousin, Patrick, got his wish for a white Christmas. We were coming into Connecticut on Christmas Day. We had left the warmth for the cold—not too cold. It was only 34 degrees. To us, we felt no pain. Maybe this was true because we were tired. We had left the house in North Carolina at 3:30 a.m. We finally arrived around 7:30 p.m. We were exhausted, but happy.

I am looking forward to meeting Kim’s family and friends. The next few days will be exciting.

Understanding What Christmas Really Is About

Well, today is over.  It is December 25th.  That time of the year when gifts have been passed out, and great dinners have been cooked.  People will have to go on a diet–especially me! 

After we have spent three month’s paychecks getting those expensive gifts, can we really say that we know what this time of year is about?  Perhaps it has become so commercialized that we have lost our focus.   I am afraid that is the sad truth.  I sit before my television watching the soldiers in foreign lands wish their families a Merry Christmas.  They are not able to be home to open the big presents and eat the great dinners.  Have we lost touch with the real reason for the season? 

I was watching a documentary on the origin of Christmas.  I was fascinated by what the commentator revealed in the one hour show.  I am not going to discuss his findings and thoughts, but I am going to share with you my feelings and reflections.

Christmas.  What is the real reason for the season?  Is it so that we must spend three months’ paychecks to buy gifts for a long list of family and friends?  Is it so that our already hectic lives can become even more hectic and crazy? 

Christmas is suppose to be about how God sent His only Son into the world to die for sinners like you and me.  Unfortunately, that is something that is not always made clear by today’s ministers.  We have been born in sin and shapen in iniquity.  We are on the wrong side of the spiritual tracks.  Death is our wage–not life.  Jesus was born to deliver us from that penalty. 

Christmas then, should be a time of rejoicing and celebration.  Instead, people are mad because they have lost their jobs and cannot buy the gifts for the season.  People rob and steal from those who have to get what they need for their families.  Yes, that happens all year long, but it gets worse around this time of the year. 

What about the less fortunate?  What do we do for them?  Do we show up at this time of the year to do our “civic duty” for them, and then do not show up until Christmas comes around again? 

We need to be real.  Real about who we are.  Real about the life we are living.  Real about the actions we take and the intentions behind them. 

What is Christmas for?  Why do we spend so much money on gifts?  Do we know what we are celebrating?  Maybe not.  Maybe we are comatose.  What are we doing and who are we doing it for?

Transforming Lives by Faith

Welcome to Transforming Lives by Faith Fellowship’s new blog!  You will find my daily thoughts on scriptures that the Lord has spoken to me about.  You will also be notified of the new lessons that will be on my revamped website. You and I are on a journey.  As we travel together, we will discover things about ourselves and others.  We will discover our strengths and our weaknesses.  Most of all, we will discover the Love of God that He has in His heart for us. 

I invite you to begin the journey with me.  It will have bumps and hills.  Sometimes it will have valleys, but we will come out the better for it in the end.  For all things work together for our good…especially to those who love the Lord! 

Be blessed!

Penny Williams