Month: November 2017

Christmas Devotional

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“O tidings of comfort and joy” goes the end of the chorus of the 18th century English carol. Hearing the strains of this melody stirs in many of us the picture of shepherds surrounding Bethlehem’s manger with wise men just over the horizon bearing gold, frankincense and Myrrh. While all of these images are true to the lyrics and the season, our own journey on this telling will begin in Nazareth. These glad tidings given came to Mary, then Joseph, the shepherds, wise men and now for anyone who will be willing to listen. This year I am offering two 30 day devotionals for advent reading. The Path to Bethlehem contains some content from last year’s reader with some updating and several additional daily readings. 30 Days of Comfort and Joy is entirely new for this year. I hope that one that one of these will be a blessing to my readers this year. You could follow the links I have inserted to find these or search yourself on Amazon. These are each in both e-book and paperback format.

The Path to Bethlehem

30 Days of Comfort and Joy

 

Blessed Assurance

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Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

I was on the front porch when the lightning struck then just half a second later the ground shook as if struck by a giant fist. It was so powerful that for a moment I was raised straight up from my seat on the wooden bench. Since that day I have never again been so close to lightening but the fear and confusion remain etched forever in my mind. It was for exactly those kinds of moments that Jesus assures us his children again and again. “I will never leave, I will never forsake. I am with you always, I will not leave you orphans; your angels always behold the face of the Father.”

 

In the hymn, “Blessed Assurance”, Fanny Crosby pens these words, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory divine.” Jesus is mine! What a thought, that the one by whom all things were created is my own. He is always with me. He sees beyond my blindness and through my confusion. He takes my hand in the storm and calms me when the lightning bolts of life fall suddenly He calms me with His promise, “I will never leave.”  With each new clap of terrifying thunder He reaches out again and touches my shoulder. “I will never forsake!”

 

But even Christians still live in a world of storms, thunder lightning and unexpected change. We are not exempt but we have His word. He not only once lived among us, but He continues by our side. He is all that we need and I will choose again today to rest in a contentment that I cannot explain. He is by my side and sees beyond to the day when the skies will be rolled back like a

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scroll and Heaven comes down to this earth forever. Praise Him today for the promised calm assurance that He will never leave, no never forsake!

What Time is It?

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To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Do you ever pray desperately for direction like I do? Does it feel as if everyone else knows where they belong and what they should be doing? But in our own lives it seems like we just muddle through. But in the muddling desperate efforts at trying to do what God has in mind I have discovered that I have somehow changed along the way. Relationships are more honest and deeper. Frustrating and confusing moments don’t leave behind half the anxieties they once did. Some way some how God is having His way.

I loved the quote I read from Joni Erickson Tada’s devotional book today: ” God’s answers and purposes have to be lived out to understand them” That is such a startlingly simple idea yet I had never seen it before. Yes it will take a lifetime to even begin to understand our amazing creator’s design. But how could it be different for the infinite and eternal God to have His way. He still loves and cares for us in the middle of our fumbling efforts He delights in those moments when we as His children reach up to take His hand!