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 5^th to begin a new year together in the Word of God.

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

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

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

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

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

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