November 6, 2024

The Greatest Gift of Love

December 18, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is LOVE.  Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent.  Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with the peace and joy of His second Coming.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.  1 Peter 4:8

Love is the reason that Jesus was born and died for us on the Cross. He loved every one of us enough to die for us. When he died Jesus cleared us of our sins, if we believe and accept His gift of salvation, because He loved us. Love is one of the main reasons that God sent His only begotten Son to us. Love radiated from this Gift on the very first Christmas night.

Christina Rossetti catches this in her poem, “Love Came Down at Christmas”:

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine,
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine,
Worship we our Jesus,
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,

Love for plea and gift and sign 

That first Christmas the first Gift was given—love from God in the form of Jesus. Jesus’s love is divine because He is the Son of God, and He is the Savior of all mankind. Love was already present that first Christmas, but the birth of Jesus makes it more powerful than just an emotion. Love came from the heavens to wash away our sin. Love came down from heaven because of God’s love.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son
so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

Love resonates during the Christmas season, even as we live through the chaos called life. It brings us together to celebrate life—earthly and eternally. It is through love that we, as Christians, can show good will toward our brothers and sisters. It is with love that we serve our Almighty God and celebrate the birth of Jesus during this season. There are all types of love, but the divine love of God is the best of all. This love is why God chose to send His only Son to die for us and give us eternal life in heaven.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Gift of love that You gave us during the first Christmas. We are grateful that this Gift is available to be accepted by all those that believe. Let us show that love to all and bring goodwill to men. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Gift of Love

December 17, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is LOVE.  Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent.  Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with the peace and joy of His second Coming.

Love.

Some things in life can only be shown or displayed in one or two ways.  Love is a verb that has numerous forms…tons of ways of expression. Books have been written about it, songs have been sung, and poems have been penned.  Jewelry stores relay the message that their product is how husbands can show their wives they love them around Christmas time, car companies do the same for wives and toy companies do the same for parents. Love seems to be everywhere.

Some people have the love language of receiving gifts—to some, material things help them to see how much you care for them and, to these people, Christmas is a great day of expressing how we feel. And to be honest, despite our attempts to say ‘I don’t do this’ but I think all of us enjoy receiving gifts; we enjoy being thought about, appreciated and loved.

But, as easy as it is to lose our peace and hope during this time of year due to the storm of holiday excitement, it is just as easy to lose sight of the one of the truest expressions of love—one of the greatest gifts we as a people have ever received.  And that is the birth of Christ.  I try to teach my kids that Christmas is a time of giving and it’s also a time of receiving.  But when they get caught up with a case of the “I wants,” I have to stop them and ask what Christmas is all about. I need to do this for myself as well; I need to remember the love of Christ that carries me not only through this season but through every day.

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7

Are there Scriptures  or songs you turn to when you need to be reminded of Christ’s love for you? How do you keep your eyes on the truest expression of love during this time of year?

* * * * *

Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your gift of Christmas.  Thank You for the gift of Your Son and for the gift of love—Your love and the ability to show love to others. Please help us to see the things this season that will keep us close to You this holiday. Thank You, Father.  In Jesus name we pray, amen.

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Love Expressed

December 16, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is LOVE.  Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent.  Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with the peace and joy of His second Coming.

 

The song, “The Christmas Shoes” can speak to us about love in heart-touching ways! Oh, to have the love and faith of a small child is such a wonderful thing. Little ones often teach us how to express love to others.

If you’re aware of this song, you know that a little boy desperately wants to get a beautiful pair of shoes for his mom before she passes away and meets Jesus. It’s a sad song, and maybe some don’t even want to listen to it. But some of the hardest or saddest experiences before us can teach our hearts about what’s really important. This song can teach us what’s important at Christmas time…or any other day of the year….love! So, I pause and reflect on this song…seeing how this small child mirrors the great love of God in several ways.

First, there’s the recognition of the little boy’s great love for his mom. (God loved us.) The little boy knew he wanted to do something to show his love for her and to give her what he thought she needed before it was too late. (God knew we needed a way to be reconciled to Him, so out of love He sent His Son to earth to be our Savior of the world.) The little boy went to the store and gave all he had to buy the shoes for his mom. And when he hit an obstacle and didn’t have enough money, he persevered, and asked for help and got it. Love would not let him stop! (God gave His most loved and wonderful possession–His Son. And when Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew the cost and what would take place in giving His life as a sacrifice; and it was there in the Garden that He cried out to God in prayer. God supplied His need. Jesus would fulfill God’s will for His life. Love would not let Him stop!) When the little boy bought the shoes for his mom, he ran home to give them to her on Christmas Eve. True and absolute love were expressed as he gave from his little heart of love what he thought she needed most—new shoes for her to wear when she would meet Jesus. (Jesus died for us and rose again…His ultimate love was expressed and shown for mankind! And THAT IS what we all need most: JESUS!)

I invite you to listen to this song packed with a powerful message of love for one another. Christmas time has beautiful packages, lit-up Christmas trees, colorful ornaments, fun traditions, events and parties, and so much more. But please, don’t forget about God’s love, our love for God, and our love for each other. Please don’t get so busy, that you forget about Christ this Christmas. Love Him, and love others. And remember that God first loved us.

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

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 4:21

  • Do you know someone who’s hurting this season who needs more love?
  • Do you need to forgive someone who has hurt you?
  • Do you need to cook a meal for a family; or get a group together to go sing Christmas carols at the home of a friend or family who needs some extra love?

God expressed His love by sending His Son. How are you to show love this Christmas season or any day of the year? Listen to this song, and let it touch your heart in the way it needs to.

This little boy brought shoes—what will you bring to someone? How will you express love?

If you have the opportunity, go to youtube.com and listen to “The Christmas Shoes” written by Eddie Carswell and Leonard Ahlstrom ~ sung by NewSong.

Dear Lord,

Let us be mindful of Your great love sent in a precious baby Boy one starry night in Bethlehem. Let us be so changed by the power of Your love that we choose to love others in the ways You bring to our hearts and minds to do so. Let each new day be an opportunity to praise You more and to love others better than we have.

In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, amen.

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No Ordinary Day

December 12, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is PEACE.  Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent.  Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with the peace and joy of His second Coming.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

They were living their lives like it was an ordinary day when this happened!

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ’Do not be afraid I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’

Luke 2:9-14

That day, the shepherds experienced a day that was no ordinary day! The angel had just announced the birth of Christ the Lord and gave them a sign in telling them the way they would find Him. The shepherds were the first to be invited to come and see the Son of God in person! What an invitation! And can’t you visualize the host of angels that appeared and praised God? The angels first spoke of glorifying God and then, “…on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

God grants peace through His Son, Jesus.  How?

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
and through him to reconcile to himself all things in heaven,
by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:19-20

God gives peace to those who are reconciled through His Son.  Thank You, Jesus!  And the lowly shepherds received the first invitation to come and behold in the flesh this “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).  (Don’t you love that?  I do!)  For it is not about status, income, background, position, education, race, gender, or fame that matters to Jesus!  It is about the heart.  It is about those who ask for forgiveness of sins—believing that Jesus died for our sins in our place and that we trust in Him as Lord and are reconciled to God through His Son on the Cross.

God can bring peace to the shepherds or kings, who came later (and all those various people types in between) in the same way: through Jesus!

If you have not come already, are you ready to receive the peace Jesus brings? Come to Jesus. He’s no longer in a manger, but He is waiting. And if you’ve already come to Him, simply praise and glorify God this Christmas season and everyday afterwards for Who He is and all He has done, is doing, and will do. Let us celebrate the peace Jesus brings!

Friends, let’s be ready.

For one day, you will be living your life like it’s an ordinary day and then, you will either leave this world and stand before God or else Jesus will return in victory and with great power and you will see Him face to face then. Either way, you will meet Him.

Receive the peace Jesus brings.

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the peace that You bring! The day You became Lord and Savior in each of our lives was no ordinary day! Let us remember to praise You each and every day forevermore! You alone are so worthy to be praised!

In Jesus’ precious Name I pray.

Amen.

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Peace of Mind – and – Peace of Heart

December 11, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is PEACE. Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent. Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with the peace and joy of His second Coming.

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I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.
So don’t be troubled or afraid
John 14:27

The greatest gift ever given to us is the gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If we truly accept this gift, our hearts and minds should be at peace.  The world cannot give us this peace; no matter how hard it tries.

The universal Christmas wish every year is probably peace on earth. Yet what is peace on earth? To many, peace would be no fighting, no hunger, no pain, and no sickness. The world would be giving us everything we need to be at peace. Yet, it can’t. No matter how hard we strive for peace from the world the world cannot give it. Only Jesus can do that.

Jesus’s birth brought the promise of eventual peace on earth.  His birth also brought the promise of peace in the heart. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, spiritual peace of the mind and heart is part of the gift of salvation. We should never have to worry about what the world cannot give us. We are granted peace as part of the gift from Jesus.

I will give you a case in point… From around November 1-January 2, it is chaos in our house. We have school, church, work, and our home lives to deal with. We are constantly on the go during these weeks with family outings and get-togethers. Just when we need a weekend at home or a day of the weekend at home, we can’t get it. We can’t get the peace of our home for one single minute during the weekend. The case this year: December 7-Live Nativity, December 8-Calloway Gardens; December 14-Christmas Parade; December 15-Christmas Lunch and Sports Banquet; December 20 (and on) – family dinners, Christmas, and New Year’s. We can’t get a moment’s peace until at least January 2. Because of the busyness of the world, we cannot get peace of mind because our minds our constantly going with everything that is going on. However, when we think of Jesus, we get a little bit of peace because that is what His birth, death, and resurrection has brought us.

In this season of hope, love, joy, and peace, the main point to remember is the peace that Jesus brought to the world and the peace He will bring again when He returns. Just the thought of eternal life in heaven should bring peace to the mind and heart.

* * * * *

Dear Heavenly Father: Please be with us as we go through this busy time of year. Bring peace to our minds and hearts as we go through the motions of the holiday season.  In Jesus name. Amen.

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Prince of Peace

December 10, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is PEACE. Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent. Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with HOPE and joy His second Coming.

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For a child is born to us…
And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b

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Prince of Peace. Often times the Lord’s many names don’t mean much to us until we have experienced them personally–that’s never been the case with this name.  I’ve always favored Prince of Peace.  Don’t get me wrong, I like all of His names, but peace just sounds so calm.  The Lord’s peace is like no pill you could ever be prescribed.  It’s like no goose egg you could ever accumulate. It’s like no budget or plan you could conceive.  Philippians 4:7 best describes this peace, “…Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

I always wondered how a person could have peace when they didn’t understand their circumstances… until I experienced this peace for myself.  I’m the type of person who needs to know all the details and I need to know what all my options are and then I maul over (a fancy way of saying worry!) the problem until its over!  Then, and only then, do I have peace.

The day I was informed that my cousin was murdered was the day I understood Philippians 4:7.  I mean, what kind of plan do you make for that? What kind of options do you have?

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Since then I have leaned into a Lord Who promised, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don’t be troubled or afraid”  (John 14:27).

And a God Who says He “will keep in perfect peace all who trust in [Him], all whose thoughts are fixed on [Him]!” (Isaiah 26:3).

Do I understand this tragic situation?  Not a chance.  Do I have the Prince of Peace’s peace? Absolutely.  And it’s something I grasp for each day.  I grasp and hold tight to my Savior who, being God, saw it fit to come to Earth, lay in a manger, and die on a cross.  The Prince of Peace.

* * * * *

Lord, I am thankful that You knew one day I would need Your peace.  Your peace that penetrates all circumstances.  You are amazing and gracious.  Thank You.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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Peace

December 9, 2013 by

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When I think of the word, peace, I think of the feeling of taking a deep breath and letting go of all the weight we carry on our shoulders, all of the situations swirling around us. I think of the feeling of peace we get when we know and believe without a doubt that our Father is taking care of things, that He is surrounding us with His unconditional love.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

The other day I was mentally planning my Christmas list: we’ve already bought the kids’ big gift and I was trying to figure out the little presents and stocking stuffers that we would be buying. During this brainstorm session I also began to think about all the other people we needed gifts for, and about the potlucks and gift exchanges at work and the decorations and the kid’s time off of school. I felt my peace slipping away.

This time of year peace is a word we see on almost every display, in songs, and in decorations. This time of year is also a time when that peace can seem far away when we allow the stress of the holiday season to overshadow what the season is truly about.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

It can be difficult to keep our focus on our Prince of Peace when we are thinking of piles of presents and of parties…when we have situations in our life that don’t line up with the joyous image of what Christmas is supposed to be…when we take our eyes off of Him. Christmas should be fun, filled with friends, family, and food; we should enjoy it and have fun. But throughout these festivities we need to remember the Giver of peace, and to remember what His birth did in our lives.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10

Dear Heavenly Father, Lord let us not take our minds off of the peace You have given us. Let us find that peace in the gift of Your birth that we celebrate each year. Thank you for that deep breath we can take. Lord for those who are struggling with peace this season, please give us the words and the heart to show them love. This time of year can generate many mixed emotions we desire to keep our eyes fixed and focused on you. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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Our Hope Lies in The Lord

December 5, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent, our blogs will focus on a central theme which is associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is HOPE.
Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent. Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with HOPE and joy His second Coming.

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Hope.

Hope is such a big word. A word not always seen, but felt; a word tied to our heart and our emotions; a word that means so much in so many situations.

I hope I catch the red light. I hope 5pm comes quickly today. I hope my son’s basketball team wins. I hope we don’t lose the house. I hope that the biopsy comes back negative.

Hope in Christ. Hope in His second coming. Hope that His will be done. Hope that He knows how life will play out.

Working with terminally ill hospice patients I have seen how deeply hope and the loss of hope can impact a life; how it can impact so many people around us.

I have seen hope last until the last breath, I have seen hope disappear with a misplaced word or a misunderstood action.

I know what it feels like to feel like there is no hope; I know what it feels like to have that hope renewed.

This time of year hope seems to flow freely, the good nature in humans seems to bubble over, miracles are easier to see, it’s easier to be kind to those in need, it’s easy to see and have hope and it is easier to fuel the hope of others.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 

The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 29:11 

God has desired to give us hope since the very beginning, He reinforced that hope when He sent His Son to be born for us and when He gave His Son to die for us.  His hope gives us strength and His hope gives us peace.

This is the dictionary definition of hope: “to cherish a desire with anticipation; to desire with expectation of obtainment; to expect with confidence.”  Consider these words as the holiday season swirls around us: cherish, desire, anticipation, expectation, confidence.

Here is another definition that I only partly agree with: “to want something to happen or be true, and think that it could happen or be true.”

The word I want to change is “think;” we don’t have to think it is true or that it can happen, because we know it is true. We know what is promised to us because He has written it in His word and in our hearts. Our hope is a “know” not a “think.”

This season think about what hope means to you, and about where your hope lies. There are numerous Scriptures about hope…write some down and reflect on them through the day, on days where your hope feels strong and on days when it doesn’t.

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Thank You, Father, for the hope that gets us through the day, the situations, the good times and the difficult times.  Thank You for the hope that Your word gives us to stand on at all times. We know that Your will is always going to be done, and that we can live our lives with this undying hope because Your promises are true.  In You, Lord, our hope lies. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Hope In Christmas

December 4, 2013 by

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Each week during the season of Advent  our blogs will focus on a central theme associated with the coming of Christ—His Advent.  This week’s theme is HOPE.
Christians throughout the world celebrate Advent. Some light candles or sing songs; some give gifts or  hang wreaths.  All of these are simple joyous ways of extending the celebration of Jesus’s coming beyond a mere 24 hours on December 25. Our prayer is that these devotionals throughout this season of Advent would help you to celebrate His first Coming and anticipate with joy His second Coming.

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But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Hope is the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Over 2,000 years ago, Jews were hoping for the arrival of their Savior—the Messiah—Jesus Christ. Today, we have the same hope of Jesus’ return after His Resurrection. We, as Christians, are very expectant of His return. When Christ does return, we will have eternal life if we have accepted Him into our hearts. Today, instead of anticipating the birth of Christ, we are now anticipating His return.

During Christmas, hope is more abundant than at any other time of the year. Kids hope for the perfect gift from Santa. Adults hope for a better New Year or for a way to provide a nice Christmas for their families. Sick people hope for a cure for their ailments. Hope springs eternal. Everyone is hoping for something.

However, during the holidays, we should be hoping—not for a birth, but for a return—Christ’s return. Yes, we celebrate His birth during this season, and we celebrate the Resurrection during the Easter season. However, instead of being reminded about Jesus’ birth, we should be reminded that His birth signaled the hope for a reconciliation with God. His birth brought us the hope for an eternal life spent with God because God already knew that Jesus would die on the Cross for our sins. We should hope for the gift of salvation, not only for ourselves, but for those who have not yet received that gift to receive it. As Christians we need to be spreading the hope of Christ’s return.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son
so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

John 3:16 gives hope to us that we will have eternal life in Heaven at the end of time if we believe in Jesus Christ. We have to have hope and faith that Jesus will return soon. This verse itself gives us hope that as believers we will spend eternity with God. This is the greatest gift that has ever and will ever be given.  We only have to accept the gift.

* * * * *

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to us so that we may be reconciled with You. We cannot do it ourselves. We are not perfect nor will ever be. Your Son is perfect, and He brings hope to all those that believe in Him.  We pray in His Name.  Amen.

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Hope Came That Holy Night

December 3, 2013 by

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The Israelites watched and waited hundreds of years for The One Who would come as a Deliverer from their bondage. The Psalmist expressed this desire for help when he said, “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!” (Psalm 14:7). They didn’t know when or how. They didn’t understand the exact Who or the complete why, but they continued to wait and hope.
Oh, the Hope that rang out across the world when baby Jesus’ first cry pierced through that silent, holy night in Bethlehem when He was born! I can’t help but think of Mary and Joseph on the first night they looked into the eyes of baby Jesus. They weren’t sure of all that the future would look like, but they had the words of angels to remember and hold on to. Through the words of angels that were spoken before Jesus was born, they knew they were picked by God for a divine purpose, and they both fully accepted their places in God’s Plan.
As Mary held that precious baby in her arms, did she fully realize the unending Hope He offered? When Gabriel had appeared to tell Mary about the birth of Jesus, he said, “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name ‘Jesus.’ He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32-33).  The angel had proclaimed a promise of Hope in Jesus!  And there on that holy night, Mary saw that Hope had come when this Child was born!
As Joseph looked down on this little baby boy looking back at him, I wonder if Joseph thought about what the angel of the Lord had said to him in a dream, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel-which means, ‘God with us’ ” (Matthew 1:20-23). The angel had proclaimed a promise of Hope in Jesus! And there on that holy night, Joseph saw that Hope had come when this Child was born!
As they both looked down on baby Jesus, I wonder if Mary and Joseph remembered the words from the Old Testament that prophetically spoke of the Hope that would come to the world: “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:6 and 7). Through Jesus, on that holy night, Hope had come as the Savior of the world!!!
Worship Jesus with me, would you please, as we listen to my favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night,” sung by Mr. David Phelps.

 


Dear Lord,
We love You, and we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, on that divine holy night! He is our Hope to break us free from our bondage in sin and reign over us forevermore as King! Let us remember that Jesus coming as the Hope of the world is the reason for this blessed season, Christmas, and let us be thankful for His life, death, and resurrection on this earth. We give You all praise and glory!
In Jesus’ precious Name I pray,
Amen.

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