Simplicity

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 2 Corinthians 1:12

Friends of ours have a small cottage by a lake that they allow us to stay in for free a few days each year. It is hard to describe the rest and clearness of heart we gain while spending days away from social media, television or even phone calls (No cell service there!)

Paul talks about a clean and sincere simplicity in Christ that I am afraid of losing as I grow older. See just as our home seems to have accumulated lots of pretty but somewhat useless knickknacks over the years, so our hearts can become cluttered and and overflowing with information, wishful thinking and time wasting habits. But there is hope in Christ who is our one true source of rejoicing. Our great hope lies not by the accumulation of collections of good deeds on the scales of eternity but by the simple gift of His life, His blood, and His wisdom in place of ours. May this end of the Lord’s day be uncluttered, blessed and filled with the marvelous peace that flows always and only from Calvary!

I love this simple rendition of Come Thou Fount of Every blessing by Youngmin You. I pray that you will be blessed and kept by God’s amazing grace in the simplicity of the love of Jesus Christ!

The Doctor is In

The prodigal’s return reunited him not only with his father but also with his brother. In the same way as we turn our hearts to seek God’s grace as a nation there will be a restoration of relationships both with God and each other. This cross always unites God’s people from every race, because we all have the same father. It heals division because religion separates but true relationship with Jesus Christ restores. The cross heals but until we recognize how desperately sick with materialism and selfishness we have become we will never get past the waiting room of God’s spiritual health clinic. The doctor is in. He is waiting for us. The question is will we come to Him today.

Whatever Happened to Christmas?

I know it might seem early but before you know it the holiday season will arrive, and the release date for this year’s Christmas devotional “Whatever happened to Christmas?” is here. This thirty day walk from Thanksgiving to the manger takes a few peeks back at Christmas memories because in a world at war with Corona Virus, we desperately need to recall the peace of Christmas.  Does anyone still remember that wondrous sense of timelessness that Christmas day once held? Today, are we constantly running due to necessity or are we just staying busy because it helps make us to feel important? When Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a humble manger shepherds left their flocks in the fields to see Him, the Wise Men left their homes to worship and even angels stood breathlessly on tiptoes to watch.

God now invites us to join them in knowing that no matter what is happening around us Jesus Christ is worthy of our worship. Christmas means listening again to the amazing story of the child of Bethlehem whose name is Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace and the Savior of our crazy world.

Whatever happened to Christmas is in both standard and large print, while the e-book version will be available starting on Saturday 10-24-20. So, whatever happened to Christmas? The answer is nothing! By His grace it remains forever the same!

Here are the links

Regular Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KTJKPP3

Large Print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L2LL1YY