Monday, December 28, 2015

He is the One


The wrappings are gone.
The boxes played with.
The toys are scattered.
The children content.

I sit in my chair.
What did it mean?
Is that all there is?
Now that it’s clean.

Something is missing.
My heart – it aches.
What is wrong with me?
Is it all fake?

The carols I sang.
Was it by rote?
The Father above.
Did He hear each note?

The Christ child - He came.
Did I forget?
To honor His birth.
To worship His breath.

I sit in quiet.
I ponder His birth.
Why did He come?
To this sin-filled earth.

The love of His Father.
Bid Him to come.
To save my soul.
He is the One!

In Christ,
Berta

This poem was previously on SnapShots: Devotions from Life

Monday, December 21, 2015

"Heaven's Loss"

He gave up glory on His majestic throne to come to earth, fully man yet fully God.
He was acknowledged as the Christ while still in a virgin’s womb.
Born in a stable. Laid in a manger. Serenated by angels. Gifted by kings.
This wasn't the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 KJV).
Earl and I have the print above, “Heaven’s Loss”, by Ron DiCianni. 
Focusing on the Christ Child lying in a manger, the archangel leans over Him as to have one last look.
His humanity was for our sake. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 KJV).

I am overwhelmed by Gods' goodness. Though I deserve nothing I have everything. In His mercy and grace and by His life, death, and resurrection I have eternal life without guilt or shame.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 KJV).
My prayer is that you too know Him and His love.
In Christ,
Berta

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Nothing Before




When my nephew, Michael, was four years old, he asked his mother if he could call me. When we got on the telephone, he began to ask questions:



“Aunt Berta, was I a baby when you had the wreck, because I don’t remember it?”
“No, It happened before you were born, Michael,” I reply.

“Aunt Berta, do your hands work?”
 “No, baby.”

“Well, your one hand works.”
“No, my hands don’t work, Michael.”

“Aunt Berta, can I drive your chair?”
“No baby.”

“Can I ride in your van when we come there?”
“Yes, you can.”

“Aunt Berta, will you ride in our car when God heals you?”
“Yes, Michael.”

As I tried to explain to Michael that my accident happened before he was born, he couldn’t understand. You see to him everything started when he was born and there was nothing before.

It’s that way with God. When you repent of your sins, die to self and give your life to Christ you are “born again” and God only sees your new self. 

Nothing before.

“He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:10-12).

In Christ,
Berta
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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

What That Word Means



An elementary school classmate invited me to Vacation Bible School at her church. In class, when I was asked to read from the Bible I stuttered. A girl beside me giggled. My face grew hot and I felt ignorant. The teacher asked another girl to read.

Later, one of the girls told me, “You can’t be baptized until you’ve been saved three times.” I didn’t know what I needed “saved” from, so I just sang the songs, played the games and ate homemade ice cream.

According to Wikipedia, Salvation is stated as the saving of the soul from sin and its consequences and is only possible through Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection is the once-for-all sacrifice that atoned for the sin of humanity.

Jesus, who was beaten, flogged, spit on, slapped, mocked and so much more, took it all upon His body for every man, woman and child in all of His Father’s creation.

Does that mean He did it for me? Still, what was He saving me from?

I finally grasped my need for salvation many years later. The sins in my life were many and their roots had grown deep into my soul. I didn’t want anyone to know the terrible things I’d done. I fought to keep my composure. To hide my shame.

Jesus didn’t leave me alone. He continued to woo me through His disciples already in my life.

I remember the moment I understood salvation and the reality of Hell. Floodgates opened and Jesus blood washed through me cleansing my soul of sin. I became a new person then and there.

God didn’t make me perfect in my salvation. He showed me the Truth and invited me to be one of His children. To strive for perfection.

Do you remember your moment? There are people all around you who need to hear the Good News, to feel God’s love and be redeemed by Jesus’ blood. Will you give them the joy of Jesus love and salvation? Ask God for opportunities to tell people about Him.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings” (Psalm 40:1,2 KJV).

In Christ,
Berta

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