turtletwo

One of my favorite parts of this time of year is the Christmas carols. They are similar to hymns in that they draw our focus to the Lord and praising Him. It's hard to believe that it is only 16 days away now. How time flies! I thought I'd start a thread in which we could share which Christmas Carols we like best and why. (If anyone wants to post lyrics they are welcome to do this, too.)

This is a true story song. Just curious how many out there have heard it before? Have you by any chance? @BeauJangles ...I know you enjoy his music and were kind enough to post a song with me in mind. Thanks. That got me fired up to hear some Stonehill again From Randy Stonehill's 1991 album Wonderama. It is also included on his 1993 compilation album entitled Stories. Rachel Delevoryas is a real person. Here's a quote from Randy Stonehill: "This is a true story from my childhood. The first time I sang the song Rachel Delevoryas in public I was completely unaware that Rachel's sister was in the audience. Later that year Rachel surprised me by coming back stage after one of my concerts."

@BeauJangles Aww. Thanks for dedicating this to me. I love this CD, too. Dancing away in my computer chair, bro! I haven't posted a Stonehill song in awhile. I enjoy the wide spectrum of his songs. The 'rejoicers' like this one. Then in contrast, he has some great story songs he has done. I think I will post one of those now. Warning to all-It's a tear jerker. But a wonderful message. Thanks for the memories, brother.

What awesome promises are ours through His word!! When we, by faith seek His face to come closer to Him- He responds tenderly.

@Not me Thanks. I'm relieved that you understand. Not everyone does. It is good to know you are not in the group that puts a time limit on grieving. (I have never adhered to the 'snap out of it'/'get over it' school of thought.) These words of comfort were much needed today. God is good to give us the privilege of ministering one to another in the body of Christ. I suppose I am missing her more than ever because of Christmas coming. She was a big kid at heart and enjoyed this time of year immensely. So I will have to celebrate my first one without her twice as hard. And keep reminding myself that she is rejoicing (celebrating) far more with Jesus in glory than any of us could down here.

My beloved mom went on to Heaven on Feb 27th of this year. I miss her very much. This makes me think of her favorite scripture.

God bless you, too for your kind words have in turn encouraged me. Your threads are refreshing to the soul because they cause us to focus on our personal relationship with Jesus. Our daily walk with God is something that can at times get pushed aside in the zeal to debate. So it is nice to have threads like this one.

@Not me I praise God for this wonderful thread ! God always means what He says and says what He means. When we take Him seriously and (as you put it) "answer the call of our heart towards Him," He is faithful to reciprocate.

Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. All the animal sacrifices in scripture simply pointed to His.) This is a poem I wrote Him. The Sacrifice, The Highest Price (A Prayer To The Lamb Of God) Oh Lamb of God, so perfect Who deserved man's adoration Instead you received mockery And cruel degradation They stripped You of all clothing They whipped You violently They put You on a splintered cross To die for such as me I marvel at Your anguish Your beyond words agony I'm grateful for Your Blood that flowed Upon that wretched tree Without it, there would be no hope No way I could atone The sacrifice, the highest price Was paid by You alone

Amen. 1 Peter 1:18-19 "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Silver, gold, animal sacrifice...these all pale in comparison to His blood. Once Jesus atoned for sin, it was done for all time...verses 6, 12 & 14 Hebrews 10:4-6 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will) 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, You had no pleasure. Hebrews 10:10-14 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 But every priest stands daily ministering and repetitively offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time He has been waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has forever perfected those who are sanctified.

Great Tidings To All! A Savior has come. And His Name Is Jesus Christ

@TheBlade I love that scripture. Thanks for posting it.

@marvelloustime Absolutely! Nobody even comes close to Him. I can relate. Our mothers left a profound impact on our lives. I'd like to share a poem I wrote in honor of mine on 5-12-19. This poem is a tribute to my beloved mother who died on February 27th. My Mother's Legacy First mother's Day without my mom Is rather sad and hard This year I can not call her up Or even send a card There's so much love inside of me I feel I must address it And so for me to write a poem Is one way to express it My mother was the kindest soul She loved to give and share So sensitive to everyone And always there with prayer She shone so bright for Jesus In the things she'd do and say Reflecting Him to others In a clear and gentle way Whenever I was sick or down Or simply felt alone She always had the words I'd need And such a tender tone Her faith was so enduring It would rise above my fear Her voice, her laugh, her wisdom Are the memories I hold dear Her heart for Christ, her love for me And all our family... These things I'll always treasure They're my mother's legacy

@Blood Bought 1953 Thanks for the recommendation on this series... I will check it out.

@Neighbor Glorifying Jesus is what we were created for and it is all that will matter in the end. Thanks for participating in "Nuggets Of Hope" and sharing your personal story about a brother in Christ who was a blessing in your life.

@Marilyn C I was just pondering on what you wrote here. God is so unique! He alone has these abilities. I just love how He can hear all our prayers at the same time, yet He cares about each one individually. Intimately! "Casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) In contrast to me (I am terrible at multi-tasking ) I sometimes even have trouble following a conversation of me and two others. lol

Mercy and Grace. They are both wonderful. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Mercy is not getting what we DO deserve... "For the wages of sin are death." Grace is getting what we DON'T deserve... "But the grace of God is eternal life." Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9)

@Revlori Thank you for understanding, sister. And for this helpful post. May God richly bless you.

Zola Levitt is the first Messianic Jewish teacher I became aware of. Back when I was just a teenager... a long time ago. lol Zola Levitt quote- “Understanding Jesus as a sacrificial lamb, in effect, is to understand the very heart of Christianity. All of His magnificent sermons, all of His miracles and the sum total of His wonderful teachings taken together would not save the best of His disciples (Peter actually denied Him when the chips were down, after having witnessed all these things). But His blood saves us all. His sacrifice pays off our debts to God in full. Acting like Jesus won’t get you salvation. Emulating His moral character, His unique way of doing things or His high principles will make you a better human being, to the degree that you are able to mimic Jesus. But it is His blood that cleanses, and that’s all. That’s the simple difference between genuine Christianity and a great deal of religion that merely goes by the name of Christianity. In the simplest terms, our realization that we need to be cleansed and our going directly to Him for that cleansing results in our salvation. Passover is a living picture of how salvation is properly obtained, as we shall see.” ― Zola Levitt, The Miracle of Passover

@BeauJangles This is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing .

Corrie Ten Boom was such a lovely lady! Thinking about her brings a smile to my face. She and her family rescued many Jews during the Holocaust. The price for this was the Concentration Camp. Her father was killed. Some of you may remember the book (and movie) "The Hiding Place." If Corrie were still here, I'd love to personally thank her. I'm sure you who know of her feel the same. There are many wonderful quotes by her. Here are a few I'd like to share with you. Enjoy. It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.-Corrie Ten Boom You may never know that JESUS is all you need, until JESUS is all you have.-Corrie Ten Boom dear sister

This thread is both to glorify God and encourage one another. These are not mutually exclusive. One does not negate the other. When believers become aware that something they said or wrote helped a person, it gladdens their heart and strengthens their faith. They rejoice that a good outcome came of it. They in turn give the praise back to God that the seed which they planted has blossomed. It is not as a way to seek recognition. They are satisfied simply to be a vessel used by God. But it is nonetheless uplifting to them when someone communicates that they've blessed them by what they've posted. I believe this is the reason George has the reaction icons here. 1 Corinthians 16:17-19 17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge them that are such. Acknowledge them. Paul told them to do this... We can see that edifying in this manner was a regular practice in the early church. So there is a biblical precedent for it. "Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement)"... In Acts 4:36 we see Barnabas was being given credit in that he was recognized (for his encouraging ways) by his very name they gave him. When you use a quote, poem, etc. you are told to credit the writer. I mentioned this because it is actually the law. It is for clarification purposes so you don't lead people to think you were the one who wrote it. I underlined the "famous quotes" above because you can see how this could cause plagiarism. I hope we can use this Nuggets Of Hope thread to lift up the name of Jesus and encourage each other through quotes, poems and stories. Be blessed, Worthy family.

@marvelloustime I'm glad the song touched you. Yearning for His soon return, along with you.

The following quote is from a new member (joined November 23rd) Thanks @Kabrina Only posted this one so far, but it sure did speak to me! "I just want to praise the Lord, and bless Him, and say that truly, there IS none like Him! We are so frail, so feeble, and many times we fail, but God really is the Strength of our lives, and our Portion forever. Sometimes we get so down, and are ready to give up. It seems like all of God's waves and billows are going over us, and we feel like surely we are going to be overwhelmed and carried away in a flood dark and deep. BUT GOD...oh those two words!! BUT GOD...HE it is Who is Faithful. HE WHO began a good work WILL PERFORM IT till the day of Jesus! I too have been going through mighty struggles both within and without; yet time and again, the rod and staff of Christ comfort me, and teach me to fear no evil, for, whether I see anything or not, or "feel" anything or not ' HE IS WITH ME, as He is with all of His flock! We walk by faith and not by sight! To everything, too, there is a time of season. I have been saved 36 years now, and wow. Sometimes we're on the mountaintop - and sometimes in the valley; sometimes we lie in green pastures near those quiet streams, and other seasons it feels like we're walking through that barren howling wilderness! God exercises His people in many ways, for He is continually working things out of us and working things in us! Praise His name! He is the Faithful Potter, and He uses many tools to work our lumps out and make us good clay so that He can fashion us to be vessels of honor for His glory! May the Lord continue to shower you all with grace and mercy, light and truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and soon-coming King!"