December Quotes

One of these days lightning is going to fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and there is going to appear in the clouds one like a son of man with his mighty angels in flaming fire. And we will see him clearly. And whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and we will wonder how, how we ever lived so long with such a domesticated, harmless Christ.These things are written that you might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world. Really believe. 

-John Piper

The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.

-C.S. Lewis

When God writes our names in the "Lamb's Book of Life," He doesn't do it with an eraser handy. He does it for eternity. 

-R.C. Sproul

Through the blending blue in beauty will the heavenly host appear, / And the saints shall rise to meet Him, crying, “Jesus Christ is here!”

-W. Lomax Childress

Use every ounce of strength you have been given, both physical and spiritual. Something that is in my mind right now... we are given a once in a life time opportunity - YOUTH! Vitality, strength, opportunity, ability - lets take advantage of it! Live now so that when you are 80 years old you can look back on a youth packed to the hilt with an expense of energy and effort into whatever you got into. Whether it be baling hay till 1 in the morning, going street preaching every week witnessing to people late at night, counseling people at church, moving concrete, digging trenches, building relationships, taking people places at 1:30 in the morning, talking through night hours behind the wheel with the lights shining over the country fields, loving people, being there for them, demonstrating a testimony of godliness - be ALL there!!!! Run yourself ragged! It is SO worth it - and you only have one chance to do it! 

-Spencer O’Neill

Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights & heroic courage, otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker. 

-CS Lewis

You shouldn't take your spiritual temperature every day. You need to look for progress over months and years, not by minutes and hours.

-Kevin DeYoung

You may not yet be what one day you shall be; but thank God you are no longer what you once were.

-Sinclair Ferguson

There's an argument for the sovereignty of God: Satan has to give an account to God. 

-Derek W.H. Thomas

Another year is dawning: 

Dear Father, let it be, 

In working or in waiting, 

Another year with Thee; 

Another year of progress,

Another year of praise, 

Another year of proving 

Thy presence all the days.

-Frances R. Havergal

Well, friends and readers, that is all for Facing the Waves! I pray that it's been a good journey. The archives will remain up, but please join me on my book review blog (click HERE) as I continue to share the stories and opinions of other authors' works. Here's to 2018 and what it holds!

In Christ,

Kaleigh

Mary, Did You Know?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25-27)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5)
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you?

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:6-7)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven. (Psal 107:28-30)
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God?

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. (Colossians 1:19)

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb!

So that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31)

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15)
And [God] put all things under [Jesus] feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” (Romans 15:12)

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I AM?

God said to Moses, “ I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: 'I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 22:13)

Did Mary know? 

She knew she was favored by God. She knew her baby would be called Jesus because He would bring salvation. She knew He would inherit David's throne and have an eternal kingdom. She knew she was the handmaiden of the Lord and that His strength was hers. She knew her baby was going to be a Light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. She knew a sword would pierce through her own heart. She knew Jesus was the Messiah. Yes, she knew. 

But did she really know? No, no one understands God completely. That's why she pondered the words that were spoken to her and treasured the Child that was given her.

In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,

He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? (Psalm 147:16-17)

earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.

From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. (Job 38:29-30)

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long, long ago.

For to the snow he says, "Fall on the earth," likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. (Job 37:6)
Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! (Psalm 148:7-8)

God, heaven cannot hold him, nor the earth sustain;

But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? (2 Chronicles 2:6)
But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! (2 Chronicles 6:18)

heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. (Revelation 20:11)

In the bleak midwinter, a stable place sufficed:
the Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:11-12)
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23)

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased." (Luke 2:13-14)

But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part.
Yet what can I give him: give my heart.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. (John 6:37)

And the Word becamse flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Song from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 

From the darkness came the Light of the Dayspring.

The One who created the wind, earth, water, and heavens came to live and die among us.

Immanuel: God with man. God with us. 

For nothing will be impossible with God.