"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."-Hosea 6:3
As we approach the coming New Year, you may be wondering what is going to happen.
Years ago, some men were on a leaky old ship in the middle of a rough and stormy sea. One of them asked the captain, "Are we safe?" He said, "Well, the boilers are weak and may explode at any moment. The ship is taking on water. To be very honest with you, we may go up, or we may go down, but at any rate, we are going on."
And that's the way we are as we face this new year. Jesus may come; we may go up. We may die, and go down and then up, but at any rate we are going on.
Reflecting on this past year, allow the Holy Spirit to invade your heart convicting and drawing you to Himself.
Ask for wisdom, courage, and faith to continue on whatever happens this next year!
It's New Year Eve Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those whom you can give it easily, but also those who need it so much. --Daphne Rose Kingma
"Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities." --Woman's Home Companion,
December 1935
"And now let us welcome the New Year, Full of things that have never been." - Rainer Maria Rilke
Early this morning, I was up praying. God gave me a mighty word for you, my partner. It is Isaiah 43:18-19:“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. BEHOLD I DO A NEW THING, NOW it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.”
Please write the date on this promise I am giving to you. Put it on a small card and tape it to your mirror or refrigerator…somewhere you can see it every day. Say these verses every day in 2010. At the end of 2010, would you send me the testimonies of the amazing miracles that God has done for you because you stood on this promise?
One word from God can change your life forever. I know! The word the Lord has prompted me to give you today for the new year is the word he gave me on September 21, 1981. I was going through some battles, and in intercessory prayer, God gave me this scripture and told me to stand on it. I began praying it aloud in spite of my circumstances.
Suddenly, the Spirit of God came on me, and I felt strongly that the Lord wanted me to send a fax to the prime minister of Israel…who did not know me…asking him if he would meet with me. I flew by faith to Israel to pray, even before I received an answer.
The prime minister’s secretary contacted me at the hotel and told me Prime Minister Begin would meet with me the following day. I went to the meeting, and for thirty minutes I spoke not a word. I only knew that God had sent me, but He didn’t tell me why. The prime minister opened his heart and talked with me as if I were his pastor. He told me about two heart attacks and a grandchild who had attempted suicide.
At the end of thirty minutes, he asked, “Why did you come?” I was terribly embarrassed because I didn’t know why I was there. I repeated the question, and the prime minister asked, “Did you not hear me?”
I replied, “Yes, Mr. Prime Minister, I heard you; I don’t know.”
“What? You don’t know?” he asked.
“No, I don’t know why I’m here.”
“You fly 8,000 miles to meet with me, and you don’t know why. Do you know anything?” he asked as he laughed.
“I know God sent me.”
He turned to his secretary and asked, “Can you believe it? God sends him to meet with me and doesn’t tell him why. Kadisi, shake Mike Evans’s hand. You’ve finally met an honest man. He flies 8,000 miles to meet with the prime minister because God sent him, and he doesn’t know why.
“Mike Evans, will you do me a favor? When God tells you why, would you come back and tell me?”
I said that I would. The next morning I awoke and picked up the newspaper. It was the anniversary of Yoni Netanyahu’s death. He was the leader of the Entebbe raid in Uganda ; he was the only fatality among the Israeli Defense Forces. As I read the account, the Spirit of the Lord prompted me to go to the Netanyahu home to comfort the family. When I knocked at the door, Benzion, Yoni’s father invited me inside.
I sat next to his very depressed and hurting son, Benjamin. I asked him if I could pray over him. He said I could. I prayed and wept over him. In my prayer, I said, “Jonathan loved David. You loved your brother, Jonathan. Out of the ashes of your despair will come strength from God, and you will be the prime minister of Israel, twice.”
When the prayer ended, I looked at him and he looked at me as though I were out of my mind. I politely dismissed myself, contacted Prime Minister Begin’s secretary and requested a meeting the following day. He agreed. I met with the prime minister and said, “I know why I’ve come.” And then, I told him the story of Benjamin Netanyahu and the word God had given me. He said, “Do you really believe it?” “Yes,” I said, “I really believe it. He’s going to be prime minister twice. Will you give him a job?”
That evening, the senior advisor to the prime minister, Reuben Hecht, offered Benjamin Netanyahu his first government post. Yes, he is now prime minister of Israel for the second time.
In that same meeting, I also told Mr. Begin, “I know the full reason why I’m here. God has told me to build a bridge.”
He laughed and replied, “The Brooklyn Bridge?”
I said, “No, Mr. Prime Minister, a bridge of love between Bible-believing Christians and Bible-believing Jews.”
He laughed, “Fabulous! Let’s build it together.”
Our partnership in the Jerusalem Prayer Team came about because of the promise I’m giving you today for 2010. Stand on it!
Loving Your Enemy TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 12-29-2009
s You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matt 5:43-46).
If you are a leader you will have conflict sooner or later. How you manage conflict will determine how good of a leader you will be. Jesus handled conflict in many different ways. Sometimes he confronted the issue head-on, other times He ignored the accusation and went on His way. Sometimes He chose to wash the feet of those who attacked Him.
Dr. Martin Luther King, father of the United States civil rights movement modeled conflict management in the following way:
"On Christmas Day, 1957, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a sermon at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. It was based on this passage and the sermon title was, 'Loving Your Enemy.' Through the course of his sermon, Dr. King suggested three ways by which we can do just that.
First, we must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. Such forgiveness doesn't mean that we ignore the wrong committed against us. Rather it means that we will no longer allow the wrong to be a barrier to the relationship. Forgiveness, according to King, 'is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning.'
Second, we must recognize that the wrong we've suffered doesn't entirely represent the other person's identity. We need to acknowledge that our opponent, like each one of us, possesses both bad and good qualities. We must choose to find the good and focus on it.
Third, we must not seek to defeat or humiliate our opponent, but to win his or her friendship and understanding. Such an attitude flows not from ourselves, but from God as his unconditional love works through us.
As followers of Christ who seek to lead as He led, we must remember that the more freely we forgive, the more clearly we reveal the nature of our Heavenly Father."*
Today, be proactive about forgiving those who have been the source of pain in your life.
Today's Prayer Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving and understanding God. You have done so much for me. I have witnessed your hand of blessing, your miraculous power in my my life and the lives of those I love, and you just keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me, my family, and my church family safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a positive and Christ-focused attitude and plenty of gratitude. Please clear my mind of distractions so that I can hear from you and please direct my steps today. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
The God of Time TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him (Eccl 8:6).
How we use our time is a good indicator of the god we choose to serve. There is a god whose name is "the urgent" that can rule our lives if we are not diligent. The wrong use of time can lead to misery. The right use of time can result in fulfillment.
"You need to take time to turn to God. Do not pray only when you have set aside time to do. The busier you are, the more you must practice turning to God. If you wait until the time is convenient, there is little doubt that you will end up spending little time with God. Try to come before God both in the morning and the evening. Pray during and between all your other jobs as much as you can. You cannot retire too much from the mindless chatter of the world. Learn to steal this time in little snatches, and you will find these moments the most precious part of your day" said Francois de Fenelon, a sixteenth century Christian leader.*
The amount of time we spend with anyone or any activity is a good indicator of the value we place on that person or activity. Time equates to money for some. For others it can be a cruel dictator. It is the physical evidence of what is at the center of our lives.
People can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the lack of available time, but the will to set a priority for the time they have. Time can be the evidence that convicts our soul that our devotion has waned.
What does the evidence of time tell you about yourself? Today, give God the time needed to develop a relationship that is meaningful for both of you.
*Francois de Fenelon 100 Days in the Secret Place, Destiny Image Publishers, Shippensburg, PA p. 117 2001
Today's Prayer
Dear God, "It's the simple things..." The simple things in life are the things that can irritate me and the things that can bring me the most pleasure. I want to thank you for the small things and the simple things. Like the widow's mite, a small thing to one person can be great thing to someone else. Please help me to stop and consider before I speak and react to little things that irritate me. Help me Father to appreciate the simple things of life, for they are truly what I enjoy. Thank you for sandy beaches, mountains, lakes and forests; thank you for the light and warmth of the sun and the freshness and life in cooling rain and a winter snow; thank you for a child's love and a pet's devotion; thank you for a baby's breath and an old person's smile. I could go on and on because there are endless things to be thankful for, but the greatest of all is love. I love you with all my heart. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
A mosaic mural based on Norman Rockwell's painting,
the Golden Rule. The inscription reads,
"DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU."
A Life of Expectancy with Erwin McManus
“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!” (Hebrews 10:35, NLT)
During a casual conversation, a businessman once asked me what kind of books I wrote. Though I described the topics of several books, the one that caught his attention was about character transformation. “What’s that?” he asked.
While organizational change is a common topic for businessmen, character transformation wasn’t a quantifiable concept for him, so I explained. “It is the ability to get up in the morning, look in the mirror and like the person you are becoming.”
He thought for a moment, looked at me and said, “I would like to get that book.”
Sometimes we stop believing that our lives can change and that the world can change. One of the most important characteristics of people who achieve the extraordinary is that they live a life of expectation. They expect the good to happen; they internalize optimism.
The book of Hebrews gives us snapshots of individuals who led lives of faith and expectancy. We are called to emulate these men and women who kept leaning confidently into their future amidst the challenges and life-changes that came with obeying God.
We are given this preface to their epic tales:
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what was seen was not made out of what was visible.” (Hebrews 11: 1-3)
At the heart of their faith, these men and women could see the invisible. At the core, those ancients who walked with God could see that to which most of us remain blind.
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” A life of expectation is the result of living in the dynamic tension that exists between faith and hope. It isn’t so much about having a big idea or how much belief you can muster. It’s the conviction about things unseen. It’s having a foundation of joyful anticipation in every aspect of life.
Sometimes God does so much in our lives that when He wants to work in a new way we resist because we have become too attached to all He has brought to us. The things God has blessed us with can become an anchor that keeps us grounded ashore rather than launching us out into His dream for us. We must remember that the unknown with God is always better than the known without Him.
Faith was never meant to be primarily a noun. It is a verb that denotes action. Faith is about conviction, while hope is about confidence. A life of faith is a life of expectation. It is not so much about what you expect out of life, but what you put into it. Faith grounds us in the certainty of God’s faithfulness. Hope pulls us into the mystery of God’s future in such a way that, no matter how bad things get, when you are pursuing the life God created you to live and the future He calls you to create, you are confident that nothing and no one can stop you. The former is about feeling entitled; the later about living fully engaged. If nothing can stop God, then who can stop you when you are pursuing Him and living for His purpose?
There are some of you who will stand out as extraordinary examples of the power of God to prevail in any crisis. Your lives will be unexplainable. You will conquer kingdoms and administer justice. You will live out promises from God that give us all hope. You will shut the mouths of lions and survive moments where you should have been dead, but you’re not. You will quench the fury of the flames and escape the edge of the sword, and your story will declare that God took your weakness and turned it into strength. You will become powerful in battle and rout armies and thwart death over and over again. Miracles will mark your life that others will find unbelievable, because you expected God to do great things.
This Week What do you expect to become? Do you expect your life, your future, to be different because you are a person of faith? Do you expect the world to be different because of your life? Where does your faith and your expectation stop?
Prayer “Jesus, You came so that I could squeeze all of the joy, beauty, value and importance out of every breath and every moment of my existence. I won’t shrink back but will lean forward and move into a life of expectation. Help me to live every moment of every day in joyful anticipation of your faithfulness to me.”
Erwin McManus' new book is WIDE AWAKE: The Future is Waiting Within You
Like a Shepherd TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman 12-26-2009
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart (Isa 40:11a).
Sometimes we can see Christ modeled in the most unusual ways.
Gerry, our neighbor, is a shepherd to the neighborhood dogs. Once Buddy, the roving black lab of the neighborhood discovered that Gerry was a wellspring of treats by simply pushing open his broken front door, he began bringing other dogs on his visits. They made themselves welcome in his front foyer.
One of them was an older cocker spaniel named Joe Cocker. But unlike Buddy, Joe didn't leave after thirty minutes. He ended up staying for two days! Finally Gerry called the name listed on his dog tag and found out that his owner lived up the road. As Gerry started to walk him home Joe stopped as soon as he reached the hill because he was too weak to climb it. So Gerry picked him up and carried him home. It was not a short walk and Joe was not a small dog.
Day after day this routine continued and I was amazed at how much Gerry grew to love that dog. He'd let him stay at his house for days at a time and Joe was content to just hang out with him and loved to sleep on top of his dirty laundry. Then one day Gerry got a call from Joe's owner to let him know that Joe had died. When Angie called Gerry to see how he was, he choked back the tears as he talked about him.
Jesus is often referred to as the good shepherd in the scriptures and his followers are referred to as His sheep He carries close to His heart. There are times in our lives when Jesus knows that we cannot make it up our own hill in life. It may be because we are facing financial ruin, debilitating health or insurmountable grief. But no matter what the reason, we can trust that Jesus is there to carry us.
Allow Him to pick you up so you can find rest in His arms and comfort in hearing His heartbeat as he carries you close to his heart.
Today's Prayer
"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry, everything to him in prayer." I can still hear my grandmother sing that old hymn to me. What a precious, loving saint. And what a precious, loving Savior! What a friend, that would lay down his life for me! So often we get wrapped up in the day, that we don't remain in that attitude of prayer. I know that Jesus is there, ready to intercede for me at any moment. I know that your Holy Spirit helps when I don't even have the words to say. I know that you know my heart and want to hear from my lips. Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of coming to you as a child to a parent. Thank you for calming me, giving me hugs in your own sweet ways, and listening. Thank you for your understanding ways...and even your correction. I pray that I will become more and more like the person you want me to be as the days go on. I love you and want to please you. I come to you in the name of Jesus, Amen.
and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his peoplefrom their sins."
Matthew 1:21
Just a Moment by Max Lucado s
It all happened in a moment, a most remarkable moment.
As moments go, that one appeared no different than any other. If you could somehow pick it up off the timeline and examine it, it would look exactly like the ones that have passed while you have read these words. It came and it went. It was preceded and succeeded by others just like it. It was one of the countless moments that have marked time since eternity became measurable.
But in reality, that particular moment was like none other. For through that segment of time a spectacular thing occurred. God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb.
The omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl.
God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created.
God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother.
God had come near.
He came, not as a flash of light or as an unapproachable conqueror, but as one whose first cries were heard by a peasant girl and a sleepy carpenter. The hands that first held him were unmanicured, calloused, and dirty.
For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt. His feet got tired. And his head ached.
To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; it’s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.
He’s easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.
But don’t do it. For heaven’s sake, don’t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.
It all happened in a moment. In one moment … a most remarkable moment. The Word became flesh.
There will be another. The world will see another instantaneous transformation. You see, in becoming man, God made it possible for man to see God. When Jesus went home he left the back door open. As a result, “we will all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52)
The first moment of transformation went unnoticed by the world. But you can bet your sweet September that the second one won’t. The next time you use the phrase “just a moment, … ” remember that’s all the time it will take to change this world.
Devotional by Pastor Shawn Boonstra: Glory to God in the Highest!
“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, good will toward men!’” —Luke 2:13, 14
One of my favorite childhood memories is the New Year’s Eve church service at my parents' church. Both of my parents were immigrants from Holland, and we belonged to a church made up almost exclusively of Dutch immigrants. And on New Year’s Eve, everybody went to church. Of course, as a young boy, I wasn’t terribly excited about a church service and what promised to be a very long sermon on the last night of the year—I would rather have been home at the party, playing games and eating the hors d'oeuvres that only seemed to come out during holidays.
But there was one moment in that church service that still sticks with me to this day. At the close of the service, the congregation would sing an old Dutch hymn: “Ere Zij God in Den Hoge,” which is “Glory to God in the Highest.” It was the climax of the service—the absolute apex of worship.
I can’t really put my finger on exactly why I loved that so much. Maybe it was the majestic tune we used, or the bridge to the Old World and my family roots that the song represented. But now that I really think about what we were singing, it occurs to me that it was probably the only song in our hymnbook that was actually written by angels.
Take a careful look at the story and you’ll see that it was just one angel who made the announcement, and then suddenly, the rest of the angels jumped in with this song. It almost gives me the impression that they were standing there, barely able to contain themselves while the announcement was being made. Then as soon as the last word was uttered, they exploded into song. The arrival of Christ, as far as those angels were concerned, was the most important thing that had ever happened.
Of course, what’s really interesting is how most of the world missed it that night. Exactly why the angels picked those shepherds for a concert is something the Bible doesn’t spell out in detail, but by the looks of it, most of the rest of the world was fast asleep.
And it wasn’t as if they couldn’t know that Jesus had come. The prophecies had pointed unmistakably to this moment for centuries, and somehow, wise men from the East managed to figure out when it was time for the Messiah to come. But still, God’s own people were blithely unaware of what was going on.
Today, the same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem 20 centuries ago is still alive, and His ministry in Heaven on our behalf still gives angels a reason to celebrate. The question this holiday season is whether or not our hearts are still soft enough to hear the song of heaven.
If it were to happen today, would you be one of the people angels would choose for a special command performance? And when you read the story of Jesus, do you have trouble keeping it to yourself?
Maybe this holiday season, it’s time to start telling people about the difference God has made in your life—because for someone else, your story might be the key that unlocks a better way to live.
s
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SITUATION David urged everyone to praise God. He told of God's faithfulness and praised him.
OBSERVATION Abraham Lincoln once listened to the pleas of the mother of a solider who'd been sentenced to hang for treason. She begged the President to grant a pardon. Lincoln agreed. Yet, he's reported to have left the lady with the following words: "Still, I wish we could teach him a lesson, I wish we could give him just a little bit of hangin."
I think I know what the old rail splitter had in mind. Yesterday, I got a little bit of hangin.'
We were having Sunday lunch at the home of a fellow missionary family. It was after the meal . . . Their three-year-old daughter Beth Ann was playing with our two year old Jenna in the front yard. All of a sudden Beth Ann rushed in with a look of panic on her face. 'Jenna is in the pool!'
Paul was the first to arrive at the poolside . . . (and) lifted her up out of the water to the extended hands of her mother. Jenna was simultaneously choking, crying, and coughing. She vomited a bellyful of water. I held her as she cried. Denalyn began to weep. I began to sweat.
For the rest of the day I couldn't hold her enough, nor could we thank Beth Ann enough. . . .I still can't thank God enough.
It was a little bit of hangin' . . . Because of it, I came face to face with one of the undergrounds' sly est agents ---the agent of familiarity . . . .
To say that this agent of familiarity breeds contempt is to let him off easy. Contempt is just one of his offspring. He also sires broken hearts, and an insatiable desire for more. . . . He won't take your children, he'll just make you too busy to notice them. His whispers to procrastinate are seductive. There is always next summer to coach the team, next month to go to the lake, and next week to teach Johnny how to pray. He'll make you forget that the faces around your table will soon be at tables of their own. Hence, books will go unread, games will go unplayed, hearts will go unnurtured, and opportunity will go ignored. All because the poison of the ordinary had deadened your senses to the magic of the moment . . . .
On a shelf above my desk is a picture of two little girls. They're holding hands and standing in front of a swimming pool, the same pool from which the younger of the two had been pulled only minutes before. I put the picture where I can see it daily so I would remember what God doesn't want me to forget.
And you can bet this time I'm going to remember. I don't want any more hangin'. Not ever a little bit. (From God Came Near by Max Lucado)
APPLICATION Make Psalm 103 your prayer. Pray this prayer throughout the day. Maintain an attitude of praise in all your activities.
EXPLORATION Cautions About Forgetting God -- Deuteronomy 4:9; 6:10-12; Psalm 9:17; 50:22; Isaiah 17:10; 51:13; Jeremiah 3:21.
The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus; Max Lucado General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, New Century Version.
"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God hasfreely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught usby human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words." 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
The grandfather's eyes filled with tears as he looked around the circle of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They had all gathered for their holiday meal and gift exchange. The rest of their evening focused on their traditional sharing of the year's blessings and their hope for the New Year.
He remembered a time when he would have depended on his wife to speak for him, but he was a changed man now. When it was his turn, he leaned forward and spoke confidently. "I wasted so many years as a Christian. I wish that I had known what I know now, so late in my life. I was saved, but I didn't read God's Word. I didn't think I could understand it because I'd only had schooling up to the eighth grade. Now the Lord talks to me as I read. He helps me see truth that He wants me to know."
He made eye contact with each family member as he continued. "God wants to talk to us. The conversations I have with Him have changed my life. Everyday I read His Word and ask Him questions. I wait before Him, meditate on a verse, and then we talk about how it relates to life. I am praying for you to discover the wisdom He wants you to have.the secrets and mysteries on His mind. Don't miss this special relationship with Him. It is the only way you are going to know His peace that can guard your heart for the future."
There was an awkward moment of silence when he finished, but he trusted God to use his testimony to affect the lives of his family. He had faith that if they chose to study God's word and hide it in their hearts, the Holy Spirit would disclose to them the mind of Christ.
Knowing Jesus brings our souls into union with God, making us alive in Christ. He is present within us, so we can practice His presence daily. Jesus said, "All that belongs to the father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." (John 16:15)
Paul said, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. The Holy Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. He reveals the nature and will of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 12)
s The story of the grandfather is true -- he is my father. The transformation he experienced didn't happen until he was in his seventies. Our family watched a shy, quiet man, who attended church with his wife on Sunday, become a strong spiritual leader who looks for opportunities to share his faith.
My father experienced the truth that Paul revealed in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 when he wrote, "There is nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another-showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."
For years, he kept emotions locked tightly, but as a grandfather he expresses genuine love and frequently weeps as he talks. He loves to discuss God's word. The Godly character and fruit of the Spirit he exhibits is the evidence that he has become a partaker of God's divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4)
This WeekWill you accept the challenge of a grandfather who believed what God said and gained not only personal intimacy with God but also a renewed mind with Godly insight?
* Prayer: "Lord, I want the new life You gave this man. I want the joy of intimate fellowship with You and the fruit of Your Spirit. I believe that I can have Your mind in me as I hide Your Word in my heart."
"A Grandfather's Challenge" is from "Words of Life" Weekly Devotional. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from James and Betty Robison and all the staff of LIFE Outreach International.
Christmastime - Michael W. Smith
The miracles of Jesus were the ordinary works of his Father, wrought small and swift that we might take them in." George MacDonald
"Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God." Ephesians 5:2
"The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in the love of Christ, and the yielding of his affections to Christ in return." Charles Haddon Spurgeon
"This was the purpose of the appearing of the Son of God, to undo the work of the devil." 1 John 3:8
"For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." Psalm 116:8
I believe that the holidays are the most lonely time of the year.
Everywhere you look people are told they're supposed to be happy and they realize that they're not. They see everybody else acting happy, and they feel so lonely. Just walking through the mall can make you feel lonely.
But Jesus has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).
When I'm discouraged, His presence sees me through.
When I'm lonely His presence cheers me up.
When I'm worried, His presence calms me down.
And when I am tempted, His presence will help me out.
Write down the last portion of this devotional thought and personalize it. Now use it as a prayer of faith and trust.
For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org.
"Loneliness and the feeling of being
uncared for and unwanted are the greatest poverty."
Mother Teresa
He Understands
by Max Lucado
Cries of loneliness. Tune out the traffic and turn down the TV. The cry is there. You can hear their cries. You can hear them in the convalescent home among the sighs and the shuffling feet. You can hear them in the prisons among the moans of shame and the calls for mercy. You can hear them if you walk the manicured streets of suburban America, among the aborted ambitions and aging homecoming queens. Listen for it in the halls of our high schools where peer pressure weeds out the “have-nots” from the “haves.”
Many of you have been spared this cruel cry. Oh, you have been homesick or upset a time or two. But despair? Far from it. Suicide? Of course not. Be thankful that it hasn’t knocked on your door. Pray that it never will. If you have yet to fight this battle, you are welcome to read on if you wish, but I’m really writing to someone else.
I am writing to those who know this cry firsthand. I’m writing to those of you whose days are bookended with broken hearts and long evenings. I’m writing to those of you who can find a lonely person simply by looking in the mirror.
For you, loneliness is a way of life. The sleepless nights. The lonely bed. The distrust. The fear of tomorrow. The unending hurt.
When did it begin? In your childhood? At the divorce? At retirement? At the cemetery? When the kids left home?
Maybe you have fooled everyone. No one knows that you are lonely. On the outside you are packaged perfectly. Your smile is quick. Your job is stable. Your clothes are sharp. Your waist is thin. Your calendar is full. Your walk brisk. Your talk impressive. But when you look in the mirror, you fool no one. When you are alone, the duplicity ceases and the pain surfaces. Or maybe you don’t try to hide it. Maybe you have always been outside the circle looking in, and everyone knows it. Your conversation is a bit awkward. Your companionship is seldom requested. Your clothes are dull. Your looks are common. Ziggy is your hero and Charlie Brown is your mentor.
Am I striking a chord? If I am, if you have nodded or sighed in understanding, I have an important message for you.
The most gut-wrenching cry of loneliness in history came not from a prisoner or a widow or a patient. It came from a hill, from a cross, from a Messiah.
“My God, my God,” he screamed, “why did you abandon me!” (Matthew 27:46)
Never have words carried so much hurt. Never has one being been so lonely.
Out of the silent sky come the words screamed by all who walk in the desert of loneliness. “Why? Why did you abandon me?”
I keep thinking of all the people who cast despairing eyes toward the dark heavens and cry “Why?”
And I imagine him. I imagine him listening. I picture his eyes misting and a pierced hand brushing away a tear. And although he may offer no answer, although he may solve no dilemma, although the question may freeze painfully in midair, he who also was once alone, understands.
IT’S CHRISTMAS NIGHT. THE HOUSE IS QUIET. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o’clock news. The last of the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law. And the last of the Christmas albums have been stored away having dutifully performed their annual rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases, and red-nosed reindeers.
It’s Christmas night.
The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed.
The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stopwatches and weapons. We stepped off our race tracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.
It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips.
And the result?
For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty.
All of a sudden he’s everywhere.
In the grin of the policeman as he drives the paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.
In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children.
In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer.
He’s in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas.
He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes.
And he’s in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings “Away in a Manger.”
Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.
It’s Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin—lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half price. Soon life will be normal again. December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade.
But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: If he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?
From God Came Near Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1987) Max Lucado
You probably think that's true when it comes to the big stuff. When it comes to the major-league difficulties like death, disease, sin and disaster---you know God cares.
But what about the smaller things? What about grouchy bosses or flat tires or lost dogs? What about broken dishes, late flights, toothaches, or a crashed hard disk? Do these matter to God?
He's got a universe to run. He's got the planets to keep balanced and presidents and kings to watch over. He's got wars to worry with and famines to fix.
"Who am I to tell him about my ingrown toenail?"
I'm glad you asked. Let me tell who you are. In fact, let me proclaim who you are.
You are an heir of God.
You are eternal.
You have a crown.
You are a holy priest.
You were chosen before the creation.
But more than any of the above--more significant than any title or position--is the simple fact that you are God's child. "The Father has loved you so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children" (1 John 3:1).
I love that last phrased! "We really are his children." It's as if John knew some of us would shake our heads and say, "Naw, not me. Mother Teresa, maybe. Billy Graham, all right. But not me." If those are you feelings, John added that phrase for you .
"We really are his children.""
As a result, if something is important to you, it's important to God.
So go ahead. Tell God what hurts. Talk to him. He won't turn you away. He won't think, it's silly. "For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. When he lived on earth, he was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. Let us, then feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Does God care about the little things in our lives? You better believe it.
If it matters to you, it matters to him.
STUDY GUIDES
READ Matthew 6:25-32
* Describe one seemly insignificant thing that can wreck your entire day?
* Name two things that you really, really believe might be too small for God to be concerned with?
* Which of life's basic needs do you think people worry about the most?
* Why is it sometimes difficult to believe that God cares about the small details of our lives?
* If God knows our needs why do we worry about them?
* Explain what it means to you to know that you were chosen by God before creation.
* How does believing that you matter to God impact your attitude about your basic needs?
* What amazes you the most about God's concern for your life?
* If you were a child sitting on God lap, what hurts would you tell him about?
The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus - Max Lucado General Editor, Thomas Nelson Publishers, New Century Version.
Words of LIFE - Weekly Devotional Come as a Child by Jeanne Rogers
“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in thepresence of my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 18:10, NLT)
My 18-month-old granddaughter searched through the colorful set of nativity figurines when her daddy asked, “Ava, can you find Baby Jesus?”
She grabbed the tiny baby in a manger of hay and placed it in front of the small stable. Her attention span lasted through the placement of Mary, the mother of Jesus, a cow and a small lamb. She quickly toddled away making the sheep sounds, “Baa…baa!”
As I finished setting up the nativity scene, I prayed silently and thanked God that our three sons and their wives make it a priority to teach their young children about our Savior. “Lord, draw all our little ones by Your Spirit and help them have a strong and intimate faith.”
In Jesus’ day, parents brought their children to get a Rabbi’s blessing, so it was not unusual for a mother or father to approach Jesus and have Him lay His hand of blessing on the child’s head.
Three of the gospels record an incident where the disciples restrained parents who had brought their children to Jesus. They thought He should not be bothered, but the children were welcomed when He called out, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16)
Jesus even used a child’s humility and receptivity to God as a standard for all who approach God’s Kingdom. “I tell you, those who do not accept the Kingdom like a young child, cannot enter.”
Jesus used a dramatic illustration of His devotion to children when He dealt with His disciples’ self-centered desire for position and status in the Kingdom of Heaven. He called a small child over to Him and positioned the child before the disciples and said:
“I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4)
Jesus knew that children can be easily led to faith in the Lord because they simply give their trust--until they are taught otherwise. He warned that parents and adults will be held accountable for the way they influence the faith of a child.
“Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. “ (Matthew 18:5-6)
“I was drawn to Jesus as a young child in spite of the turmoil created by an abusive, alcoholic father. The way adults in my life dealt with their pain created barriers and moved me further away from the love of God.
God removed these barriers by giving me a gentle step-father who created a stable home for my mother, sister and me. Because of that, I found life in Christ as a teenager. My new life impacted my entire family and ended several generations of living without God.
Each one in our family came to Jesus like a little child. In simple trust, we received His forgiveness and discovered a new purpose for our lives. Like the children who came close to Jesus when the restraints were removed, we received His touch and His blessing.
My husband and I have taught the treasure of knowing Christ to our children. Their God-centered parenting draws their young children to a simple faith and trust in Jesus. The miracle happens when children are not hindered in their faith, but exposed to sincere Christ-like love.
Through our service in church and the outreaches of LIFE, our entire family is devoted to removing the enemy’s barriers for children. There are many types of barriers, but when the hindrance is removed, children can trust and receive to God’s love. That causes the heavens to rejoice, “For of such is the Kingdom of God.”
This week Notice how receptive a small child is to love and resolve to keep that openness and simple trust in your relationship with God.
Prayer “Father, I thank you for sending Jesus to break down barriers. We come to You like a child to receive Your loving touch and blessing.”
We will see the perfect Priest. "He was dressed in a long robe and had a gold band around his chest" (Revelation 1:13). The first readers of this message knew the significance of the robe and band. Jesus is wearing the clothing of a priest. A priest presents people to God and God to people.
You have know other priests. There have been others in your life, whether clergy or not, who sought to bring you to God. But they, too, needed a priest. Some needed a priest more than you did. They, like you, were sinful. Not so with Jesus. "Jesus is the kind of high priest we need. He is holy, sinless, pure, not influenced by sinners, and he is raised above the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26).
Jesus is the perfect priest.
He is also pure and purifying: "His head and hair were like white wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like flames of fire" (Revelation 1:14).
What would a person look like if he had never sinned? If no worry wrinkled his brow and no anger shadowed his eyes? If no bitterness snarled his lips and no selfishness bowed his smile? If a person never sinned, how would he appear? We'll know when we see Jesus. What John saw on that Sunday on Patmos was absolutely spotless. He was reminded of the virgin wool of sheep and the untouched snow of winter.
And John was also reminded of fire. Others saw the burning bush, the burning altar, the fiery furnace, or the fiery chariots, but John saw the fiery eyes. And in those eyes he saw a purging blaze which will burn the bacteria of sin and purify the soul. (From When Christ Comes by Max Lucado)
CHRIST: The Perfect Priest
When we see Christ, what will we see?
We will see the perfect Priest. "He was dressed in a long robe and had a gold band around his chest" (Revelation 1:13). The first readers of this message knew the significance of the robe and band. Jesus is wearing the clothing of a priest. A priest presents people to God and God to people.
You have know other priests. There have been others in your life, whether clergy or not, who sought to bring you to God. But they, too, needed a priest. Some needed a priest more than you did. They, like you, were sinful. Not so with Jesus. "Jesus is the kind of high priest we need. He is holy, sinless, pure, not influenced by sinners, and he is raised above the heavens" (Hebrews 7:26).
Jesus is the perfect priest.
He is also pure and purifying: "His head and hair were like white wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like flames of fire" (Revelation 1:14).
What would a person look like if he had never sinned? If no worry wrinkled his brow and no anger shadowed his eyes? If no bitterness snarled his lips and no selfishness bowed his smile? If a person never sinned, how would he appear? We'll know when we see Jesus. What John saw on that Sunday on Patmos was absolutely spotless. He was reminded of the virgin wool of sheep and the untouched snow of winter.
And John was also reminded of fire. Others saw the burning bush, the burning altar, the fiery furnace, or the fiery chariots, but John saw the fiery eyes. And in those eyes he saw a purging blaze which will burn the bacteria of sin and purify the soul. (From When Christ Comes by Max Lucado)
Being an Overcomer TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
"How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" (Ps 13:1-2).
Have you ever heard someone jokingly say, "It's not easy being me?" This expression is poking fun at their unique personality or challenges they face in life. Well, it wasn't easy being King David.
His life was a life of extreme highs and extreme lows. He was a shepherd, a political leader, a builder, a prophet, a businessman, a warrior, a lover, a giver, a murderer and a worshiper. He must have been criticized by others as being hypocritical in his early career. In each of these roles he achieved things for God but he also failed God on many occasions. He had a creative-type personality, which is often very passionate with many mood swings. We see this side of him when he unabashedly danced before the Lord in front of his subjects almost naked (2 Sam 6:14).
When David wrote his psalms he was honest about what he was feeling. When he feared his enemies he expressed it. When he could not understand why God was silent, he expressed it as in the psalm above.
However, David never stayed in the place of despair. He often ended his psalms like this one. "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me" (Ps 13:5-6).
David chooses to focus on what God has done for him, not what He has not done. If you are waiting for a breakthrough with God, be honest with Him about your hopes and dreams. However, also affirm your faith and trust in Him to accomplish His purposes through your life. Be an overcomer.
The Will of God Pastor Adrian Rogers
"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother." - Mark 3:35
Ian Thomas asked: "Which of these things in the life of Jesus is more spiritual?
· When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount? · When He raised Lazarus from the dead? · When He washed His disciples' feet? · Or when He spat on the ground and made clay to anoint the blind man's eyes?"
The answer is that none was more spiritual than the other. Jesus did not divide His life up into little segments of spirituality. He was simply available to do whatever His Father willed.
The will of God is not a road map. It is a relationship! You just simply set yourself apart to do the will of God.
Are you segregating your life into activities that are more spiritual than others? If so, surrender all you are to Him and make yourself available for whatever He calls you to do today.
What a special time of the year! Thanksgiving and Christmas are more precious to me than any other holidays, and they so beautifully go hand in hand.
More and more, Dr. Van Impe and I realize the importance of being grateful for the true essence of Christmas - that God became flesh. He came as a baby, humbling himself to a manger, and, one day, to Calvary's tree for you and me. Oh, what love!
I wonder if we can really understand the emotion in heaven and the joy here on earth as Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem just prior to the birth of Christ.
Can you see them as they wearily make their way through the narrow streets of Bethlehem? Mary, tired from the long journey, sits on the little donkey as Joseph leads it along.
Their journey is almost over, and none too soon. They stop in front of one of the inns in Bethlehem. With a tender word, Joseph comforts his wife and then strides quickly toward the inn door.
Have you ever wondered what Mary was thinking as Joseph knocked at the innkeeper's door? Perhaps she was remembering what her cousin Elizabeth had said to her some time before. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance [fulfillment] of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:42-45).
Mary knew how blessed she was, for out of all the women in the world, God had chosen her to give the world this baby; He was the Son of God, produced by the Holy Spirit, waiting to be born in Bethlehem (see Luke 1:35 and Hebrews 10:5).
Mary knew about the promise that foretold: But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2).
Mary's mind didn't dare leap ahead to contemplate the rest of those words. It was enough for her to know that she was, at this very moment, in Bethlehem (ancestral home of King David, Joseph's forefather) and that her time to give birth was at hand.
Mary looked at Joseph, footsore and fatigued from walking alongside the donkey all the way so that she could ride. She knew how blessed she was to have this good and just man as her husband. He had handled the situation so well. He had shown her nothing but love and concern. More than once he had told her, "I know, beloved wife, that this child has been conceived in a special way. The angel laid all my fears to rest."
Joseph had learned of Mary's pregnancy after she returned from visiting Elizabeth. For six months, they had marveled at the conversations they each had with the angel. It must have been awesome for them, realizing that the Holy Ghost had visited Mary and that the child she carried was a divine original.
"Oh, Joseph," I can hear Mary saying, "He is to be called 'the Son of God'."
"Yes, Mary," Joseph responded, "and His name is to be called JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins."
Did they recall the words of Isaiah? Did they repeat those names? Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel ... For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6).
Perhaps Mary remembered those conversations as her husband knocked at the innkeeper's door. She was so tired. The journey had been long and hard. But now, at last, they had arrived in Bethlehem.
For us, today, a journey to Bethlehem is still not easy. In the hustle and bustle of the season, there are many things to deter us. We've all heard that we should keep Christ in Christmas, but let's be sure that we keep ourselves in Christmas, as well! If we are not careful, we can become so busy with Yuletide activities that we are exhausted before we get to Bethlehem - and miss the real Christmas altogether.
Knock ... knock ... knock!
Joseph knocks at the innkeeper's door. A Baby is about to be born - the most important Baby ever to be born on this earth. "Let us in ... let Him in ... out of the cold and darkness of the night ." But the Bible tells us there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7).
No room! Those are heart-rending words. Would we have said that? Yet, isn't it being said every day? We are all innkeepers, with room for many things, but do we have room for Him? In our lives - shabby stables that they are - He may be cradled, but we must give Him room.
Joseph, the rugged carpenter of Nazareth, a just man whose faith transcended his misgivings, enfolded Mary's helplessness in his strong arms as he lifted her off the back of the little donkey. Someone had tapped him on his sagging shoulders and said, "There is a place, if your wife won't mind. I know I can fix it and make it clean. It will be quiet there ... and warm."
Joseph had ministered to Mary's needs in that weary pilgrimage to Bethlehem; but his husbandly duties had not yet ended. Mary in a stable? The Son of God born in a barn? How his mind must have reeled. Remember, he was very human.
Husband, would you like for your wife to give birth to her firstborn in a stable? What lowly circumstances! The Lord of all heaven and earth was about to make His human presence known in the world - but in a barn? This was not the birthplace Joseph had imagined for JESUS.
Barns smell, not just of clean hay, but of animals. Barns are not always sanitary. Oh, the lovely Nativity scenes we see at Christmas do not begin to portray what Joseph and Mary must have experienced in those pre-birth moments, as they contemplated their plight.
One wishes we could push back the pages of time and make it different - different, perhaps, like the school Christmas play I heard about.
One little boy had been asked to play the role of the innkeeper; it was quite a challenge for him because he was a very excitable child - but his teachers wanted to include him. His parents, teachers and schoolmates were so pleased that he had this opportunity.
His were simple lines. When Joseph knocked at the door and asked for a room, he, the innkeeper, would say, "There is no room in the inn." Seven words. And that was all.
The big night came. Practice performances had gone well. Then came that moment.
Knock ... knock ... knock - Joseph knocks at the inn door. With great emotion and convincing reality, Joseph presents his case to the innkeeper. His wife is very pregnant. In fact, the baby is due any moment. Won't the innkeeper please let them in?
The little boy who had rehearsed his lines so very carefully, listened patiently, then said the seven words loud and clear: "There is no room in the inn."
Joseph turned, his shoulders sagging. But before he could leave, the innkeeper opened the door, thrust his head out, and said, loud and clear, "Wait ... wait! You can have my room."
It wasn't in the script. Nor was it in the script on that first Christmas. And so it was, that ... she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:6,7).
As we recall this short synopsis of the most beautiful story ever given from God, may your heart be reminded of the importance of remembering, not just the gifts that are to come, the families we are to see, and the loved ones we shall enjoy, but remembering the true message of Christmas - God's love for us. And may we not get so distracted by the many activities of the holiday season that we never even reach Bethlehem.
Dr. Van Impe and I are grateful for the opportunity to share the saving message of God's love for the world in these closing days of time. Thank you for your prayers and support.
When I was in grade school my family lived next door to a large commercial bakery. My father worked there for a short time and each Christmas the employees enjoyed an elaborate party sponsored by the bakery owners. The food, entertainment, decorations and Santa were supplied. However, parents were instructed to bring a wrapped gift for each of their children in attendance to place under the Christmas tree in the front of the enormous cafeteria where the party was held.
My family attended the party. I can't remember how old I was, but I believed in Santa, along with my three sisters and brother. The five of us were so excited we were beside ourselves with expectations. None of us had ever been to a party before. I remember there was a group of people singing Christmas Carols, a couple of speakers, and of course the main event -- Santa passing out the gifts for all the boys and girls that parents had placed under the tree!
Our family was sitting near the center back of the cafeteria. Our food had been greatly enjoyed and our trash discarded. Now we waited in anticipation for our names to be called by Santa. Each time an elf handed Santa a present we held our breath in hopes our name would be next. Child after child went forward to accept their gifts from Santa, skipping and scurrying back to their parents so the gift could be opened and revealed. The sound of wrapping paper being ripped mingled with squeals of happiness as one by one the gifts began to dwindle. It soon became evident to my siblings and me that Santa may have forgotten us. We harbored the secret thought that perhaps we weren't good enough to warrant a gift from Santa.
Still, there were a few gifts left. Hope filled my heart right up until the very last gift was left and claimed by a girl up front. My parents looked miserable and asked if we were ready to go home. With heads hung low and spirits trampled, my brother and sisters and myself began to get into our coats and jackets.
"Look everyone," I shouted. "Santa's coming to our table!"
Sure enough. There stood Santa right beside our table and he held five orange net stockings. Each one was filled with oranges, apples, walnuts and a tiny toy as well. Santa handed one to each of us as we were leaving and called out, "Merry Christmas Children! Ho Ho Ho!"
I remember feeling so special, Santa came to our table. He hadn't forgotten us or decided we were too bad to deserve a gift!
"Santa didn't forget us!" my brother shouted as he voiced my own thoughts. Years later, I found out that my parents didn't have enough money to place a gift under the tree for us and that the orange net stockings were passed out to every child in attendance. The only thing I remember thinking was that we got the best presents of any children in the room.
God bless the insight of that particular Santa and the person or persons who pointed out our lack of gifts. I like to think because of that occasion, my heart is a little more open and my eyes are a little more observant of the needs of those around me.
Merry Christmas! -- Christine Smith
Christine is the mother of three children, grandmother of 13, and foster mother to many more. She loves children, reading, and writing. Her stories have appeared in Chicken Soup For The Soul, Woman's World Magazine and a foster care newsletter.
When you face a trial, what is your first response? You probably would like to run away as quickly as possible to escape it. Though this is a normal feeling, God has a different way.
It is not the trials in your life that develop or destroy you, but rather your response to those hardships. How, then, should we react when difficulties feel overwhelming?
First, trust God. Believe His Word and reflect on ways He has been faithful in the past. He assures us that He limits our trials and enables us to endure.
Second, persevere. Even when we don't understand and the pain seems too great to bear, we should never quit. Continue seeking the Lord through His Word and prayer. Cling to hope in Christ, and praise Him in the midst of the pain.
Third, remember that our sovereign God is in control. He's allowing this adversity for a reason and will demonstrate His sustaining power through it. Even though the pain might feel intolerable, the Lord will prosper us. Scripture compares our growth to gold, which is refined through fire (1 Peter 1:7). Often, I hear believers reflect on a difficult time and admit that despite the intense hurt, they wouldn't change the situation. They see the beauty God created through the struggle and realize its value.
We will encounter difficulties—sometimes intense and painful trials that seem too much for us. Yet we can rely on our heavenly Father to deliver and grow us in ways we could never imagine. He doesn't demand that we endure on our own, but He does allow us to respond and trust Him.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visit www.intouch.org.
