Beautiful Moments

Debbie Huxton

Somedays we all need encouraging. This podcast is for those days, beautiful moments of reflection and the occasional conversation to inspire and uplift you the listener.

Episodes

  1. 02/14/2021

    Pause For Thought - Valentines

    Pause For Thought - Valentines Day Happy Valentine's Day this is one of the most widely celebrated unofficial holidays. I was reading an article the other day written by Dianne Neal where she was discussing there several different explanations for Valentines day, which was declared a celebration of martyrs in A.D. 496 by Saint Pope Gelasius I. Did you know that some experts believe the celebration was designed to divert Christians from the pagan observance of Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival. Other experts link the custom of exchanging valentines with the old English belief that birds chose their mates on that day. Now the early church had two saints named Valentine. In one story the Roman Emperor Claudius II forbade young men to marry, thinking that single men made better soldiers. However a rebellious priest named Valentine disobeyed this and secretly married young couples. Another version tells is that Valentine was an early Christian who seemingly made friends with children. When the Romans imprisoned him, the children threw loving notes through his cell window. Jesus condensed the Ten Commandments into two: "... love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." Mark 12:30 (NLT) [Jesus said,] "I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other." John 13:34 (NLT) He said the love we have for one another will prove to the world that we are his followers (John 13:35). Once we experience God's lavish, unconditional love, the only reasonable response is to share that love with others. Jesus also gave a command that appears illogical and impossible: "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.” Luke 6:27 (NLT) Our natural tendency is to love only those who love us, which Jesus said is no credit to us. The selfless love He described can be expressed only with supernatural help from God's Spirit, but it offers the world an undeniable witness of God's transforming love and power. Maybe we should use this February 14 to reach out to those who don't come to mind when we think of Valentines.

    Pause For Thought - Valentines
  2. 12/24/2020

    Pause For Thought - Christmas

    The Essential Message of Christmas  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’ ” Matthew 1:23 At this time of the year, we say, “Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays,” and we need to be mindful Christmas isn’t always a merry or happy time for everyone. For some who has lost their job, this is not the most wonderful time of the year, because so much emphasis is placed on a merry Christmas being a materialistic one. There are also those who have lost loved ones. I am one of those people, and this time of year now come with an ache as songs, and preparations evoke memories of happy times gone before. Therefore, Christmas becomes a difficult time for some. This year unlike any other is very different, separation and isolation, loss and uncertainty seem to be the message being given. This Christmas we are in need of encouragement, we need to hear a message of Hope and certainty. We don’t need Christmas presents; we need Gods presence. We need to be reminded of what this season is all about. It is not about material things, food drink or presents as nice as they all may be. In the bible we read in  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’ ” We need to be reminded now more than ever of the essential message of Christmas, which is Immanuel—God is with us. And for the hurting person, the lonely person, the sorrowing person, the fear filled person, it is time to be reminded of the gift that was given over 2000 years ago. “The message of Christmas is: God will be with you. God will help you. God will strengthen you.” God’s Will for you is to receive Jesus into your heart, your life as a gift so that you can receive all He has to give you Forgiveness Health Encouragement Hope Wisdom Peace Provision Freedom (Deliverance) Fresh Infilling of the Holy Spirit Receive the best present ever this Christmas, receive Christ into your heart and unwrap the gift that keeps on giving. “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace…” Numbers 6:24-26  Be strengthened and filled with renewed Hope this Christmas. If you are looking for community online you can join us in our private facebook group - Beautiful Ministries Have a safe, Hope filled Christmas Lots of love to you all Debbie

    Pause For Thought - Christmas

About

Somedays we all need encouraging. This podcast is for those days, beautiful moments of reflection and the occasional conversation to inspire and uplift you the listener.