Have you checked your calendar today for upcoming Christmas events?
True, our head is frequently whirling as we try to keep up the pace. We do not want to offend any that invite us to Christmas parties and we wisely set great importance upon church choir cantatas, children’s programs and candlelight worship services.
In the pace, make the Prince of Peace top priority.
“And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6b NAS).”
The King has come…
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:1-2 NKJ).”
Your King is coming…
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.”
(Zechariah 9:9 NKJ)
He rules over a spiritual kingdom…
“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here (John 18:36 NKJ).”
Enthrone Him…
“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21 NKJ).”
The King ‘is’ coming!
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20 NKJ).”
What’s a Christmas without batteries?
Hmm, that’s a thought for you and me to mull over for a minute or two. So many of our gizmos need batteries inserted before we can operate them.
Pity the parents who forget to buy batteries before children and teens open their gifts. What about poor Dad? He will be unable to hear the whir of battery operated tools if they are not included?
Free advice included in this message….
Stock up on batteries before Christmas and remove dead batteries from your cameras. You won’t want to miss a minute of the action; this year’s Christmas will be next year’s memories. As Christians, we depend on a far greater power than disposable batteries.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 HCS).”
We receive his power through repeated fillings.
“… be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18b HCS).”
Batteries power gizmos; the Holy Spirit empowers Emmanuel followers!
I hope to one day meet you at his gates!
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations (Psalm 100:1-5 KJV).”
Have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving…
In the 1970’s, advertisers of a popular over-the-counter medication, used a catchy jingle. Relief may have been just a swallow away…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iENQXIQ8wH0
When seeking deliverance from troubles, relief is just a prayer of faith away.
“Lord, happy is the man You discipline and teach from Your law to give him relief from troubled times (Psalm 94:12-13a HCS).”
Revelers plan and anticipate Christmas & New Year’s parties.
Beware of imbibing…
“Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
Those who linger long at the wine,
Those who go in search of mixed wine.
Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it swirls around smoothly;
At the last it bites like a serpent,
And stings like a viper.
Your eyes will see strange things,
And your heart will utter perverse things.
Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying:
“They have struck me, but I was not hurt;
They have beaten me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”
[Proverbs 23:29-35 NKJ]
“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house (2 Chronicles 7:1 KJV).”
When hearing the name of Solomon, the first word that pops into my mind is wisdom.
“In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants (1 Kings 3:5-15 KJV).”
After reading the 2 Chronicles passage, I am adding prayer to my memory bank.
I nearly heave a sigh of relief when reading ‘This is not a bill,’ in bold print. Not only has a company relieved my financial concerns; they have pushed my happy button.
How about this for a hooray?
Scenario: It is February; the electric company discovers they have overcharged you due to a computer glitch. In turn, they credit your account and you do not have to pay the current humongous electric bill.
As difficult as it is for me to comprehend, God erased my debt!
“He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14 HCS).”
A Disciple
Jesus chose Twelve Disciples.
That is fact. Yet, He sent out an additional seventy.
“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come (Luke 10:1 KJV).”
I am allowing truths from this passage to seep into my soul.
There is strength in numbers when the LORD is keeping count.
In sending them out two-by-two, the disciples had the companionship and prayer support they would need in their outreach ministry. In addition, the second disciple could confirm the testimony of the first to share.
Their outreach was in preparation of Jesus arrival.
I cannot fathom the numbers of those that Jesus has sent in his name. I do know that he wants you and I personally involved in the expansion of his kingdom.
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV).”
What concerns you?
Is it the rise and fall of the stock market?
Are you anxious about the high cost of healthcare?
Is inflation at the supermarket checkout counter getting you down?
Maybe you see trouble ahead for the future generation.
It is not trite. I should let go & let God; He can handle it.
“The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Thy hands (Psalms 138:8 NAS).”
Pam Ford Davis 