The Abundant Life Center

by Dona Hake

It seems our world is growing colder all the time and I am not talking temperature either. I find it so sad at times the insensitivity in the words and actions of people. Words can hurt and bruise deeply and actions many times convey unspoken words and attitudes. It does not matter, if they do not proceed from a heart of love, it will never be right. Jesus had something important to say about this. I have heard these words of His spoken many times over…”Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.” I love the Message’s translation because it sums it up simply.

Matthew 7:12 (MSG)
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior:

Ask yourself what you want people to do for you,
then grab the initiative and do it for them.”

I love how this says to “grab the initiative and do it for them.” It is so easy to think about how we feel we should be treated yet do we take hold of the initiative to be thinking about the feelings of others around us?

With the help of God’s love, He can show us the needs of people around us. Many times we just need to step out of our own little self created world and open our eyes to the needs of others around us. I think it would be a good habit to ponder our words before we speak them and think about our actions. Think to yourself, “Is this how I would want to be spoken to or is this how I would want someone to act in my presence.”
Personally I think this is one of the greatest prayers ever to pray for yourself. Also, it you have someone in your life that has mistreated you or hurting you with words, these are powerful words to pray for them in order that their eyes would be open to their behavior. I believe these words spoken by Jesus are those of power and they are meant for us to live by!

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by Dona Hake

Truth is we all do it. We build up expectations at times and if they do not pan out the way we planned, we are disappointed and let down. How we react to those disappointments will either upset us or just make us a bit stronger inside.

Today I will tell on my parrot. Since she talks but does not read I will be able to get away with this. (lololo!!!) Our parrot, JJ, observes our household very closely and she understands our routines pretty much. I was told by a very wise woman that raises and understands these birdies that to never get them too used to a routine, because if they like it too much and you break it…well let’s just say they are not the happy feathered campers. This is why I NEVER feed her at the same time everyday.

She knows my routine in the morning and this morning it was totally different. A bit more rushing and I quickly began to leave for an appointment and I walked over to her cage to say goodbye and she snapped the side of her cage in anger rather than her usual affectionate little goodbyes that I get. She just did not want me to leave her. I left her on an “That was not very nice JJ!” Out the door I went and even when I came home I am usually greeted with little happy whistles and her jumping around. I walked over to her cage and she just kept her back turned and would not even look at me. You see, she had an expectation based on what “she thought” should happen. She was indeed a disappointed and mad little parrot today.

We can all relate to having expectations on how we think something should go. Maybe you experienced this over the holidays. Regardless if you did or not, I am sure it has happened to you some other time in your life. Sometimes when our expectations that are based on the ideal meet up with the real it can be a very big disappointment.
I think we need to just take this big pill and swallow it…disappointments will happen. It is what we do with our disappointments that makes all the difference. It is so important to just move on and not permit anything to hinder or rob your joy. It is of great consolation that our Lord well understands our disappointments and as we take them to Him, He will help us walk through them. Thank God for Jesus because He understands every up and down we will ever face.

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by Dona Hake

Over the next few days you will hear much of people making resolutions.  If one makes a resolution it is of utmost importance that it is coupled with a desire to accomplish it or follow through with it.  My thoughts on this are to live each day as unto Him and do that which He is speaking to your heart about.  Do not get me wrong, I think it is great to make plans and goals but I kind of love staying in that place of living one day at a time knowing that I have His hand of blessing on all that I set my hand to, and everything else seems to fall into the right place.

Psalm 90:17
“And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,

and direct thou the work of our hands upon us…”

I believe as we allow His beauty or His grace to be upon us He will direct the work of our hands.  He will begin to deal with how we view everything.   He is well able to put us in alignment with His will as we stay humble to Him. He will in turn cause all that we set our hand to to be blessed and prosperous.    If there are things in your life relative to disciplines that you desire change in, I just encourage you to prayerfully take them to Him.  Let Him do the changing and bring growth in His timing.

by Dona Hake

As I have spent time with my loved ones over the past few days my heart was touched with such an appreciation of their lives and their love for me.  As I did shopping for my loved ones and other special people I would try to think about what they liked or needed and tried to purchase the perfect gift.  I loved watching the joy and anticipation in people’s eyes as they opened  their gift!  I had especially loved watched the joy and expressions on our granddaughter’s faces as they were overjoyed as they unwrapped presents.

I am reminded today the the most precious gift of all that I ever received in my life did not come in a pretty box with a bow on top.   He came into my heart as a result of my choosing to receive this perfect Gift.   A long time ago our Heavenly Father knew exactly what we needed.  He planned His gift and He gave it in a way that was just as it was prophesied in the book of Isaiah.  His Son Jesus would come by way of the miraculous and He would demonstrate His love for us as He lived and died for us.

Isaiah 9:6 (ERV)
“This will happen when the special child is born.

God will give us a son who will be responsible for

leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor,

Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.”

I pray that this is a day of blessing as you spend time with the people you love and celebrate the One who lives forever !

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by Dona Hake

“Lord, are my thoughts and words acceptable to you?”   This would probably be a very good question and prayer that should cross our minds often.  I believe that this question would keep us out of much trouble that could easily be avoided.  Many times we are quick to think things or form opinions based on our first impression.  Maybe you are thinking things and speaking things based on what you have seen in the past.  As a result of not asking the Lord for how you are to respond in word and in thought , you could get yourself in a difficult situation or offend someone.

Psalm 19:14 (AMP)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my

[firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.”

It is only God that knows you all too well.  He understands how you tend to think and react.  He knows every hurt and pain that is still in the healing process within you.  He is well able to help you hold your tongue and alter your thought process.  It is He that can help us to be rock solid in every area of our life because He is the Rock!  Look to Him as often as you need to be your Helper today that you may think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to Him.

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by Dona Hake

They understood the timing, and they knew what to look for. They observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth, and they simply continued to move toward it. They moved toward the light in anticipation for this was the sign of the birth of one that would be King of the Jews.

This big and beautiful star was giving the very direction that they needed. With vision and hope, they moved toward it until they arrived. Humbly they bowed before Him,gave gifts, and worshiped Him.

There are so many things that I read about in the Bible but there are certain things I read and wish I could have been there to witness. Only my imagination can help me visualize and understand what it would have been like to bow my knees before this child that would some day be the King that was sent from Heaven.

Today we too need to keep our eyes on the Light from above. That Light will give us direction and keep us moving forward. With determination and strength He enables us to do His will as we look to Him and His Light. Wise men really do still seek Him.

by Dona Hake

I feel so blessed that I had opportunity to visit North Wales two different times.  The one thing that I could not wait to experience was to get inside one of their amazing castles.  As I walked through these medieval buildings I wondered about the lives that were protected when battles were fought behind the walls.  They were strong and mighty walls that were built with the purpose of protection.

Our Lord promises us a place to run and hide when the battle starts to rage around us.  I believe He desires that we hide in His place of safety even when the battle is not on.  He desires that we live under the shadow of His wings.  Yet when the heat of life is turned up we are promised that  His great strength and mighty wisdom  will instruct us in our battles.  We must remember to stay under His shadow though.  We cannot throw up our hands and give up for He goes before us and He promises to win the battle.  Praise Him for He is our place of hiding and because of that we can have courage to live this life!

Psalm 71:3 (ESV)
“Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.”

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by Dona Hake

Yesterday I was finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping. I walked to the counter and laid my things down and a clerk that I speak with often began to ring me up. I asked her how she has been doing. She dropped her head and said, “Not well at all. I am really having a hard time getting through this…” I immediately knew what she was referring to for I knew from previous conversations that she had lost someone very special in her life. She began to share that it has been five years and she has done well for the past five Christmas holidays yet this year she could not figure out why this one was so hard. The depression that enveloped her touched me in my heart. I began to try to console her for I too know what it is like to lose someone over the holidays. Sometimes words seem so inadequate yet I know they do more than what we realize at times. I walked out the door and prayed that God would comfort her heart and He has continued to remind me to pray for her.

I know that I have shared this often over the past weeks but it bothers me seeing how the hustle and bustle of the holidays can pull us into our own little “worlds” in which we are oblivious to the pain of those that are reaching into memories at this time and they are struggling. It may not even be a death but a broken relationship that has caused division in your family. Plain and simple…holidays can open up wounds that may not be totally healed.

I encourage you to be sensitive to those around you at this time. Maybe you are reading this and you are walking through the pain of remembering someone you love and have lost or you are enduring a trial that has taken the joy of the celebration away. I pray that God’s comfort would permeate you and keep your heart and that His joy would well up within you. I pray also that great strength would arise within you that you may in turn share that same comfort with someone else. God bless you.

2 Corinthians 1:3 (The Message)
“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.”

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by Dona Hake

If you are a woman that has given birth to a child, you well know the intensity that is in the room especially right before your child is born. There is intensity and anticipation all around you as you are working with all your strength to bring forth life. I can say for myself that the joy that I felt with the birth of both my sons is a feeling beyond words. Gentlemen…if you were present for the birth of your children, you too can relate to this overwhelming joy! Yet, I try to imagine that knowing it is my time to give birth and all the hospitals were full, all doctor’s offices were closed and I had no where to deliver my child. Finally, I find myself persevering in the birth of my child and round about me is not sterile hands but animals, loud noises and the smells of animals. Okay, I think you got the picture!

All the images that are put before us this time of the year creates a fantasized image of how our Lord Jesus was welcomed into the world. Believe me, it was not what we see on our Christmas cards. In spite of pondering this thought I began to think about what He brought into the “room” that was given Him. I am absolutely positive when Mary gave her final push and as Jesus took His first breath of earthly air, that amazing joy exploded all around them. The glory of God appeared in that place and it brought everyone to their knees. A gift from Heaven took His first breath and everyone that watched was in amazement because they knew who He was. He was not just a baby, He would be the Kings of Kings!

I encourage you in the hurry and scurry of your final preparations of celebrating Christmas that you truly remember the greatest gift that has ever been given.

1 Chronicles 16:27 Names of God Bible

” Splendor and majesty are in his presence.

Strength and joy are where he is.”

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by Dona Hake

“Actions speak louder than words.” It seems this old saying seems to be spoken more after someone has exhibited negative behavior. Truth is our body language is always speaking something even when we are not saying a word. I well know as a photographer that an image is capable of speaking volumes to the one looks at it. Images can freeze a moment for a lifetime and yet an image never speaks a word. Our actions can exhibit things that others see and those actions can be misinterpreted as well.

Let us remember that our actions that proceed from a loving heart and a heart that seeks to do the right thing will speak and produce good things. On the other hand if you are angry or disturbed with someone or a situation, your body language and behavior may be exhibiting something that could be a hindrance to those around you.

Let us be mindful of our actions, because many times they do speak louder than words.

James 3:13 (HCSB) “Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness.”

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