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Posted on 01/02/2023 6:16:23 PM PST by JustAmy
Edited on 01/02/2023 7:28:26 PM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
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Thank you. The are sweeties!
Bible in a Year :
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
My motherâs shiny red cross should have been hanging next to her bed at the cancer care center. And I should have been preparing for holiday visits between her scheduled treatments. All I wanted for Christmas was another day with my mom. Instead, I was home . . . hanging her cross on a fake tree.
When my son Xavier plugged in the lights, I whispered, âThank You.â He said, âYouâre welcome.â My son didnât know I was thanking God for using the flickering bulbs to turn my eyes toward the ever-enduring Light of HopeâJesus.
The writer of Psalm 42 expressed his raw emotions to God (vv. 1â4). He acknowledged his âdowncastâ and âdisturbedâ soul before encouraging readers: âPut your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my Godâ (v. 5). Though he was overcome with waves of sorrow and suffering, the psalmistâs hope shone through the remembrance of Godâs past faithfulness (vv. 6â10). He ended by questioning his doubts and affirming the resilience of his refined faith: âWhy, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my Godâ (v. 11).
For many of us, the Christmas season stirs up both joy and sorrow. Thankfully, even these mixed emotions can be reconciled and redeemed through the promises of the true Light of HopeâJesus. .
Reflect & Pray
How has Jesus helped you process grief while celebrating Christmas? How can you support someone whoâs grieving this season?
Dear Jesus, thank You for carrying me through times of grief and joy all year round.
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Good Night to Amy’s Place
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Bible in a Year :
[Jesus] broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.
Since 1961, families and friends had been separated by the Berlin Wall. Erected that year by the East German government, the barrier kept its citizens from fleeing to West Germany. In fact, from 1949 to the day the structure was built, itâs estimated that more than 2.5 million East Germans had bolted to the West. US President Ronald Reagan stood at the wall in 1987 and famously said, âTear down this wall.â His words reflected a groundswell of change that culminated with the wall being torn down in 1989âleading to Germanyâs joyous reunification.
Paul wrote of a âwall of hostilityâ torn down by Jesus (Ephesians 2:14). The wall had existed between Jews (Godâs chosen people) and gentiles (all other people). And it was symbolized by the dividing wall (the soreg) in the ancient temple erected by Herod the Great in Jerusalem. It kept gentiles from entering beyond the outer courts of the temple, though they could see the inner courts. But Jesus brought âpeaceâ and reconciliation between the Jews and gentiles and between God and all people. He did so by â[breaking] down the wall . . . that separated usâ by âhis death on the crossâ (vv. 14, 16 nlt). The âGood News of peaceâ made it possible for all to be united by faith in Christ (vv. 17â18 nlt).
Today, many things can divide us. As God provides what we need, letâs strive to live out the peace and unity found in Jesus (vv. 19â22). .
Reflect & Pray
What dividing walls do you see? How can you help remove them in Jesusâ strength?
God of peace, please help me tear down walls that deny Your truth and love.
She wears it with dignity! â¤ď¸
Bible in a Year :
Encourage one another and build each other up.
Iâm not sure whoâs responsible for turning out the lights and locking up the church after our Sunday morning service, but I know one thing about that person: Sunday dinner is going to be delayed. Thatâs because so many people love to hang around after church and talk about life decisions, heart issues and struggles, and more. Itâs a joy to look around twenty minutes after the service and see so many people still enjoying each otherâs company.
Fellowship is a key component of the Christlike life. Without the connectivity that comes from spending time with fellow believers, weâd miss out on many benefits of being a believer.
For instance, Paul says we can âencourage one another and build each other upâ (1 Thessalonians 5:11). The author of Hebrews agrees, telling us not to neglect getting together, because we need to be âencouraging one anotherâ (10:25). And the writer also says that when weâre together, we âspur one another on toward love and good deedsâ (v. 24). .
Reflect & Pray
What benefits do you gain from being with believers? How can you help others experience fellowship in Christ?
Dear God, please help me to be a âfellowshiperââone who generously encourages others in love and compassion.
Happy Caturday!
Dark and gloomy here. Been raining on and off for a few days.
Rain expected for Monday.
Silver lining.....using less heating in December. Saving LP for colder months ahead.
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Well, it’s always good to look on the bright side! :)
rain is better than snow. :-)
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Bible in a Year :
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
During my morning walk, the sun hit the waters of Lake Michigan at a perfect angle to produce a stunning view. I asked my friend to stop and wait for me as I positioned my camera to take a pic. Because of the position of the sun, I couldnât see the image on my phoneâs screen before I snapped the shot. But having done this before, I sensed it would be a great picture. I told my friend, âWe canât see it now, but pictures like this always come out good.â
Walking by faith through this life is often like taking that picture. You canât always see the details on the screen, but that doesnât mean the stunning picture isnât there. You donât always see God working, but you can trust that Heâs there. As the writer of Hebrews penned, âFaith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not seeâ (11:1). By faith we place our confidence and assurance in Godâespecially when we canât see or understand what Heâs doing.
With faith, not seeing doesnât prevent us from âtaking the shot.â It just might make us pray more and seek Godâs direction. We can also rely on knowing whatâs happened in the past as others have walked by faith (vv. 4â12) as well as through our own stories. What God has done before, He can do again. .
Reflect & Pray
What are you trusting God to do even though you may not see it clearly right now? How has He delivered you or your family in the past?
Heavenly Father, thank You for all the ways Youâve provided for me in the past. Help me to walk by faith even if I canât see all Youâre doing.
Merry Christmas!
Enjoy your time with family and friends.
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Moose says Merry Christmas!
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Bible in a Year :
You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, . . . out of you will come . . . one who will be ruler over Israel.
In November 1962, physicist John W. Mauchly said, âThere is no reason to suppose the average boy or girl cannot be master of a personal computer.â Mauchlyâs prediction seemed remarkable at the time, but it proved astonishingly accurate. Today, using a computer or handheld device is one of the earliest skills a child learns.
While Mauchlyâs prediction has come true, so have much more important predictionsâthose made in Scripture about the coming of Christ. For example, Micah 5:2 declared, âBut you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.â God sent Jesus, who arrived in tiny Bethlehemâmarking him as from the royal line of David (see Luke 2:4â7).
The same Bible that accurately predicted the first coming of Jesus also promises His return (Acts 1:11). Jesus promised His first followers that He would come back for them (John 14:1â4).
This Christmas, as we ponder the accurately predicted facts surrounding the birth of Jesus, may we also consider His promised return, and allow Him to prepare us for that majestic moment when we see Him face to face! .
Reflect & Pray
How might you respond in worship to the truth of the prophecies of Christâs birth? How does His promise to return for us impact your decision-making?
Loving Father, Iâm so grateful for the birth of Jesus and His mission of rescue and redemption. Thank You for His certain return for me.
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