Wednesday, December 24, 2014

He Will Be Called Jesus

She will give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

     God is with us. Focus on the baby Jesus and celebrate the joy that came into the world. The baby that would save you and me from our sins.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!


See you back here on January 5th to begin a new year together in the Word of God.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Here I Am. Send Me.

     The glory of God came to earth and slept in a stable. The Son of Man and the Son of God made His first appearance with no fanfare, no parade, no network news or twitter. Only the animals surrounding Him, along with His earthly mom and dad welcomed the extraordinary Messiah into His ordinary surroundings.

     Just as Jesus would share His love and compassion with the least of the least, He chose to share His birth with the lowest class of the day, the shepherds. And they witnessed the glory of God and the choir of angels heralding His arrival.

     Jesus still enters the places others fear to tread. He walks into the room of the derelict, the prostitute, the cheating corporate executive. He visits the death bed of an unbeliever and offers hope and life. He never gives up on us.

     Could it be the very ones you avoid are the ones Jesus has asked you to love? Not an easy task. Neither was dying on the cross. The heart of Christ is with those who need Him most. He does not want to lose even one.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

     With His help, we can share the love. When others want to throw stones, Jesus steps a little closer and takes the beating for the outcast, the poor and needy, the hungry and the sick, the prisoners and for you and me. He shares His glory with us. And when He asks:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

     We can respond like Isaiah:

And I said, “Here am I. Send me.”  Isaiah 8:8

Lord,
Here we are! Send us. Show us how to love as You do. Keep us from fear and lead us into the places others avoid.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Monday, December 22, 2014

Safe Travels

     As you travel this week to meet with family and friends, remember you always have a traveling companion right by your side. When you get off track, He will gently guide you back. If you take a major wrong turn, it may take some maneuvering, but He always knows the safest and shortest way back.

     He never gets car sick or falls asleep. When the road seems comfortable and smooth and even boring, He has plenty of wisdom and stories to keep you awake. He will fill the time with Words unlike any you have ever heard.

     When the weather and the roads are treacherous, He will say, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.  He is steady and protective and will watch the road for you. When you go off into the ditch and the world turns dark around you, His hand will lift you out into the light. He is right there, always to the end of the age.

     And as Carrie Underwood says, “Jesus, take the wheel.” Maybe it’s time to just let Him drive.

Safe travels.

Jesus,
Thank you for being there for us throughout every road trip and wrong turn. Guide us in the way we should go.

Amen

Friday, December 19, 2014

The Gift of Salvation

     Jesus offers grace to each and every one of us earth-dwellers. His arms outstretched in sacrifice and love with unimaginable pain and agony as His shed blood paid the price. I pray, if you haven’t already, you will give Christ a chance. Let this season of faith and hope give you eternal peace. Accept the free gift He offers.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

     Are you a “whosoever”? Believe. ‘Tis the season. May the peace of Jesus fill your heart and mind over the next week as we celebrate His birth. A child is born to us in the City of David. Christ the Lord.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

Jesus,
You came to earth for us. You chose to take our place and we accept you as our Savior. The miracle of God as man. The Son of God. Let everything point to You.

Amen

Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Gift of Love

And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.  1 Corinthians 13:13

     The greatest of these is love. Our faith believes in the unseen. Our hope yearns for more. Love overcomes everything. The love we share will follow us to heaven. When we meet Jesus face to face all of our hopes and dreams will be realized. Our faith will come to life in His presence. And everything we did in His name will be revealed. Why do we love?

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

     Because of His great love, we, too, can love. Without Him it is impossible, but with Him all things are possible. Receive this blessing from the heart of your God today.
    

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Jesus,
Pour out Your love on us and fill us to the brim until it overflows unto others. Bless us in Your name.
Amen


Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Gift of Hope

     Hope. We struggle to hang on to it. We search for a glimmer of it rhrough a tough season. There are the moments we sit in darkness and hopelessness fills out souls. And then…there it is again. It's the right word at the right time. It's the warm embrace of a child. It's God’s ever-present love being recognized again.

     It is the rope thrown to a drowning man. It's a new treatment for cancer, an attempt to fix a broken relationship, a light at the end of the tunnel. Hope. It’s right there around the corner. It returns. It revives. It restores.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

     Hope does not disappoint. The love of God has been poured in our hearts and God will never leave us nor forsake us. Not ever! Let the gift of hope lift your heart. And one day soon, we have the hope of heaven. Our hope does not disappoint. Our hope is Jesus.

Lord,
No matter where, no matter what, no matter who, no matter why, hope is there. You are the hope of glory and our hope remains in You.
In Jesus name,
Amen


Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Gift of Faith

     A Bible verse hangs from my kitchen window and serves as a reminder of faith as I clean up the dinner dishes; a reminder of faith and hope and Jesus. Our daughter, Angela, gave it to me years ago for my birthday. The verse written on the glass pieces in front of me is one worth memorizing.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1

     Do you believe this Biblical definition of faith? Do you have confidence in what you hope for? Are you assured of Jesus even when you do not see Him? Our faith gives us hope and confidence. It gives us the blessed assurance of His presence and the eternity we long to see. Savor your faith today in the Savior. It is a gift from God.

Jesus,
Our faith is a gift; a gift of hope. a gift of assurance in the unseen. Let us believe in the miracles to come. You have a good plan for us.

Amen

Monday, December 15, 2014

The Gift of Grace

     This time of the year is not always filled with joy and peace. For many, it is a reminder of their loneliness, their sadness at missing a loved one, a time of stress and too much to do. And there are those Grinches that just can’t seem to smile at the world in general. Their hearts are just two sizes too small.

     Jesus offers us the greatest gift ever given. All we need to do is receive it. This season take a deep breath and picture the very Son of God being born in a manger. Picture this same baby growing up into the sinless, perfect man. He is the One offering us the free gift of salvation. The sinless One took on our sin, all of it and wiped it clean. The gift of grace is ours for the taking. He offers us what we do not deserve. All we need to do is receive and open this miraculous gift of eternal life.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.  Ephesians 2:8

     God’s gift of grace becomes ours when we believe in Jesus. It is the gift that keeps on giving throughout this season and every day of our lives. It can grow the heart of the grumpiest Grinch until it is two sizes too big.

Dear Lord,
We thank You for Your gift of grace this Christmas. We pray many hearts will be open to Your message until we feel Your peace and joy in every circumstance.
In Jesus name,

Amen

Friday, December 12, 2014

The Light of Life

     As you view and appreciate the Christmas lights this season, remember Jesus calls YOU the “light of the world.” (Matthew 5) His Word brings radiance to our eyes. Plug yourself into the Holy Spirit’s light and begin to shine wherever you go. You know the Author and Finisher of life, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace.

     You know the One born to a virgin, the One from heaven who walked the earth, the One who suffered your pain, and rose again. You know Jesus. God with us. Our Father, our friend, our advocate, our comforter, our teacher, our purpose. You have the light of Christ. Amazing grace.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus,
We have the light of life because of You. You give us new life. Thank You for saving us and giving us the opportunity to share You with others. Shine favor on and through us throughout this next year. We love You.

Amen

Thursday, December 11, 2014

The Lamp of the Body

     The Bible confirms that our eyes are the lamp of the body. Through someone’s eyes, we can see into their soul. We witness the glistening tears of joy and sadness, the twinkle of laughter, the wink of shared connections, and the lifeless look of depression. You can tell so much by the gaze of another, in love or anger, in surprise or confusion.

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22

     Yesterday we spoke of the joy and faith of older Christians. What gives them that gleam in their eye, the infused joy in their spirits? I know for a fact, for many of them, it is their love for and knowledge of God’s Word.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  Psalm 19:8

     Let the good news of Jesus fill your hearts with joy today and shine the light of Him from the tips of your toes to the light shining through your eyes and share the joy with others. Be His messenger of hope.

Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones.  Proverbs 15:30

Jesus,
Your Word brings health and joy to our very being. Let our eyes shine with the brightness of Your love. Fill us with Your Word which gives us the radiance of Your love. Let us be Your messengers today and everyday.

Amen

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Elder Wisdom and Light

     Bible teacher, Beth Moore, was speaking to a large group of women. She was pleasantly surprised to see the zeal and passion of the over-65 crowd. From her study, “Children of the Day” she writes, “The lines on their faces drawing rays around their eyes like a child’s illustration of the sun, causing them to gleam.”

     Don’t you just love that? To think that our wrinkles surround the gleaming light of our eyes. How precious to see life and light and zeal in the passionate hearts of older women of faith! They have gained so much wisdom through so much hardship and sacrifice. We should be sitting at their feet and asking questions.

“How did you get through the toughest time in your life?”
“How do you keep your purpose and passion for life alive?”
“Teach me about your faith.”

     Our culture does not always value our older generation. Watch the ones that shine with the love of Christ. I am almost 60 and when I grow up, I want to be just like them. I gave this verse to a dear friend of mine. She is 84 and has been such an important part of my life for over fifteen years.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3

     Thank God for the Christian elders in your life and allow them to mentor you. You will gain much from their experience, their hard-fought battles and from their deep and abiding love for the Savior.

Dear Lord,
You have gifted the elderly believers among us with Your wisdom and grace. Help us to value them and seek out their guidance. Their eyes shine with the gleaming light of Your Son in ways we don’t understand. We are grateful for their presence among us.
In Jesus Name

Amen

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

The Light of the World

     Don’t you love the lights of Christmas? The soft glow of the tree in an otherwise dark room? Looking out the window at the shiny deer lighting up the yard or the Nativity set with the baby Jesus?  In our otherwise dark world, Jesus shines brightly.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

     You have the light of life surrounding you each day. We can become discouraged when we see the darkness increasing around us with violence, disease, wars and earthquakes. The world needs Jesus. And we are the ones to spread the light. After Jesus calls Himself the light of the world He tells us:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on the stand, and it gives light to everyone in the room. In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16

     Don’t hide your love for Christ. Let it shine so everyone in the room can see it. Our goal is to glorify God. Let it be about Him today, and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Jesus,
You are the light of the world and because we have You, you allow us to shine that light before others. Show us how to do that today and just like the Christmas lights around us, we can glow with warmth in a dark world.

Amen

Monday, December 8, 2014

No Darkness At All

     How did we live life without Jesus? We have fought disease, been hurt by friends, struggled through class, birthed babies, grieved over lost loved ones and cried buckets of tears. Jesus comes into our darkness and shines with His light. Sometimes it is the tiniest glimmer of hope, or the first tinge of a smile or a bursting ray of sinshine that suddenly warms our heart.

     He is the light of the world and He is the lamp of heaven. His light overcomes darkness. Ask Him to shine light into the deepest part of you. Anything you have hidden from yourself or others, anything that still tingles with hurt and sadness and anger. You know those old scabs that break open to wound you time and time again? Jesus will place a soothing balm over them all until, one by one, they never bother you again.

This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that god is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

     Invite the light of Christ to shine on you. He will remove the darkness of Satan’s work. Don’t allow Satan and his angels to take another day of joy from you. The light of Jesus has come to give you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) Choose the gifts of His light. In Him there is no darkness at all.

Jesus,
Let Your light shine on and through us. You were born in Bethlehem, humbling Yourself from full glory to live as a man. Your glory is complete and it is available to us each day. We want to live in that light without any darkness at all.

Amen

Friday, December 5, 2014

God's Will

     We looked at a very short Scripture verse yesterday:          

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

     The verses directly following go on to say:

Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

     We have so many choices each day. Choices in our attitudes. Choices in how we treat the people around us. Choices in following our own self-centered needs or following God’s will for us. The verses above spell out a few choices we can make to follow the will of God.

    Jesus is with us each minute of each day. Rejoice in that continually. The Holy Spirit is there to teach, to guide, to comfort, to convict. Pray continually. He lives within us! And choose to be thankful in all circumstances. When life is tough, thank God for working. He turns our mourning into joy. He brings good out of suffering. He uses our tough times to help others. Give thanks. Rejoice. Pray. This is God’s will for you.

Jesus,
Your presence surrounds us inside and out. Make us aware of Your presence today as we pray, rejoice and give thanks to You, our Savior and our Lord.

Amen

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Rejoice!

     Jesus came to earth. And Jesus is coming back. Your sins are forgiven, washed away, finished on the cross. Jesus rose again and we are His. And we will be with Him forever more. This gives us everything. We can rejoice daily in those promises. Here are three verses to remind us to do just that:

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice!  Philippians 4:4

This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10b

     Allow the deep and penetrating joy of Jesus fill you with strength. Wherever you go, whatever you do, whoever you meet, He is with You. His strength will carry you through. His Words will give you comfort. His purpose will give you courage. Heaven is ours! Rejoice always!

Jesus,
Fill us with the joy of the Lord. It is our strength. All is well with our souls. Let the deep filling of Your joy work from the inside out as we move through the challenges of our day.

Amen

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Look Up!

     Jesus is coming back. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus talks about the signs of the end of the age. He compares the increase and the intensity of events as when a woman is in labor. The birth pains become more frequent as the birth draws near. As so it will be before His coming.

     There is no need for fear or worry. Before the final tribulation the church will meet their Savior. And Jesus tells us as we see an increase in earthquakes and pestilence and wars and rumors of wars:

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.  Luke 21:28

     The second coming of Jesus will come as a thief in the night. We are to be hope-filled, watchful and ready. As you look forward to and prepare for Christmas this year, remember our Savior did not just come in human form to die for our sins. He will also come one day as the glorious heavenly King ready to rule and reign a new heaven and a new earth. Look up! And Paul tells us:

Therefore encourage one another with these words.  1 Thessalonians 4:18

Jesus,
Soon we will celebrate Your birth at Your first coming and soon we will celebrate Your second coming. And we will be with You forever. We look up and wait and watch for You with no fear of the events we see around us. We love You.


Amen

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Advent's Anticipation

     December is here, ready or not! The church’s calendar is turned to the beginning of a new year. And the four weeks leading up to Christmas are called the season of Advent. It is a time of anticipation, expectation and preparation. Sort of fits in with our cultural relationship with Christmas too.

    But our Advent declares the coming of a Savior. Do you hear what I hear? A shepherd boy hears a choir of angels and three wise men follow a star to a manger scene. And a virgin girl gives birth to the Messiah, the Son of God and the Son of Man. Let’s prepare ourselves and ponder the miracle about to take place. Let’s set our seasonal calendars to new beginnings.

     The beginning of a grace-filled world, where all we need is to believe.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.  Luke 2:20

Lord,
Let us be like the shepherds, praising and glorifying You for all the things we have heard and seen. We praise You for this season of hope-filled beginnings and anticipation.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Monday, December 1, 2014

When We Don't Understand

     I have been questioning God again this week. A friend of mine is grieving over someone close to her. A young woman died in childbirth and left a grieving husband, a toddler and a brand new beautiful little girl. Another friend of a friend brought a baby home from the hospital only to lose her a few days later due to many deformities and organ failure. And we ask, why God?

     God does perform miracles. I know and believe He does. God does answer prayer. I know and believe He does. The couple with baby Abigail brought her home from the hospital and prayed and sang and loved her until she breathed her last. Their testimony brings glory to God. How?

     Through their tears and grief they know their sweet girl is whole and happy with Jesus. As this dear one’s earthly father sat in the valley of the shadow of death with her, he believes God gave him a picture of giving his daughter away to the bridegroom of heaven, Jesus. Instead of walking his grown-up girl down the aisle, he had to be willing to give her away too soon.

     Through it all, they trust the One who knows. I don’t know how they received the strength to give this testimony, but I know God can do that; give us spiritual answers to unanswerable questions. Knowing all is well with our souls gives us hope for a future filled with glory. When a mom will be re-united with her family and a baby girl will be united with her earthly mom, dad and sister. We don’t understand the mystery, but we know and trust the One who does. And we pray and we believe and we give testimony because all is well with our souls.

…that all may go will with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2b

Dear Father,
Sometimes it feels as if our hearts will break with sorrow. You understand to the very depths as You meet us right where we are and give us comfort. There is so much we won’t understand until we meet You in heaven. Help us to give You our sorrows and burdens and give us peace as we wait.
In Jesus name,

Amen