"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, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6 NIV).
Peace. During this hectic season, that word seems far removed from what we see at stores. People are hustling around trying to find that perfect gift and waiting in long lines to check-out. I think the peace that Jesus proclaimed isn't on many peoples' minds during the Christmas season. But the child that was born for us in Bethlehem, was the Prince of Peace. This Christmas I would like for you to have peace in your hearts. During Jesus' ministry he often spoke about peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27 NIV). Peace won’t come from buying that perfect gift for someone or receiving the gift you always wanted. The world wants to convince you that having these material gifts will make you happy, but the only true peace and happiness is found through Jesus Christ. The baby born in the manger is a symbol of the perfect gift given to us. It is He that can give you the peace in your soul that surpasses anything the world could give you. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7 NIV). This peace is available to everyone who surrenders their life to Christ. This Christmas season may you be filled with the peace only Christ can give. Let that peace permeate everything you do during this busy time of the year.
Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for giving us the Prince of Peace. May we take time to remember that we have Christ in us and that His peace is available to us all the time. May His peace be shone through us wherever we are.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Shepherds Worship Baby Jesus by Ann E. Broughton
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 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." Luke 2:8-11 NIV
The first to hear the news of the Christ child were the shepherds. The scripture says that they hurried off to find the baby, and then they went and told everyone about what the angels told them. Maybe the angels told the news to the shepherds because Jesus would become our shepherd. These shepherds bent their knee to worship the Christ child and later they would be saved through this little baby when He grew up to be the great Shepherd. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me----just as the Father knows me and I know the Father---and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15 NIV). He sacrificed His life to save us from the enemy (Satan) and death. Just like a shepherd who would lay down his life for his sheep, so did Jesus become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus is our shepherd who loves us. "He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11 NIV). I like to imagine Jesus holding me close to His heart when I am having struggles or when life's burdens threaten to overwhelm me. I picture myself in His arms safe and sound, away from the enemy (Satan) and secure in His love.
Jesus calls us by our name and leads us. "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (John 10:3-4 NIV). We are referred to in scripture as the sheep..."We all like sheep have been led astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6 NIV). Jesus is our shepherd calling us by name while we wander in the wilderness of sin and hopelessness. It is up to us to listen to His voice and run to his arms to receive his forgiveness and grace. In order to hear His voice we need to be still long enough to meditate in prayer. This is a busy season and sometimes it is easy to be all caught up in the shopping and parties and forget about the baby Jesus the shepherds went to see. Let us remember why we celebrate Christmas and listen to our Shepherd's voice. He is calling to all of us to serve Him.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for sending us Jesus as our shepherd. Help us to listen to His voice and come running to Him when we are lost. Let us never go so far away from Him that we can't hear His voice anymore, because it is then that the enemy will sneak up on us and steal away our peace. Thank you for saving us and holding us close. May we remember that the baby born on Christmas became the shepherd who sacrificed himself so that we can live forever.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
The first to hear the news of the Christ child were the shepherds. The scripture says that they hurried off to find the baby, and then they went and told everyone about what the angels told them. Maybe the angels told the news to the shepherds because Jesus would become our shepherd. These shepherds bent their knee to worship the Christ child and later they would be saved through this little baby when He grew up to be the great Shepherd. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me----just as the Father knows me and I know the Father---and I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15 NIV). He sacrificed His life to save us from the enemy (Satan) and death. Just like a shepherd who would lay down his life for his sheep, so did Jesus become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus is our shepherd who loves us. "He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11 NIV). I like to imagine Jesus holding me close to His heart when I am having struggles or when life's burdens threaten to overwhelm me. I picture myself in His arms safe and sound, away from the enemy (Satan) and secure in His love.
Jesus calls us by our name and leads us. "He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them and his sheep follow him because they know his voice" (John 10:3-4 NIV). We are referred to in scripture as the sheep..."We all like sheep have been led astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6 NIV). Jesus is our shepherd calling us by name while we wander in the wilderness of sin and hopelessness. It is up to us to listen to His voice and run to his arms to receive his forgiveness and grace. In order to hear His voice we need to be still long enough to meditate in prayer. This is a busy season and sometimes it is easy to be all caught up in the shopping and parties and forget about the baby Jesus the shepherds went to see. Let us remember why we celebrate Christmas and listen to our Shepherd's voice. He is calling to all of us to serve Him.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for sending us Jesus as our shepherd. Help us to listen to His voice and come running to Him when we are lost. Let us never go so far away from Him that we can't hear His voice anymore, because it is then that the enemy will sneak up on us and steal away our peace. Thank you for saving us and holding us close. May we remember that the baby born on Christmas became the shepherd who sacrificed himself so that we can live forever.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Treasures in heaven by Ann E. Broughton
“Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21 NIV).
I just read about a Wal-Mart employee getting trampled to death by some 2,000 people who rushed the doors to get to wonderful sales.
I find it very sad that all those people were so driven by material things that a human life did not matter to them. Jesus did not approve of loving material things more than serving others. In the above verse Jesus spoke to a rich man after the man had asked him how he could obtain eternal life. The rich man had obeyed the commandments since his youth, so he thought there would be no problem about getting eternal life. But you see Jesus knew this man’s heart and the one thing he loved more than getting eternal life was his riches. That is so very sad because when we die we will not be taking any of our things with us. When the need for things overcomes our need for the Lord, then our faith suffers and ultimately it could keep us from eternal life. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. But store up yourselves treasures in heaven ……for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV). I believe that the treasures that we store up in heaven are the selfless acts Jesus told us to do. Jesus said “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matt.25:34-36 NIV). So take time this week to analyze where your treasure lies, and what you are doing to acquire your treasure in heaven. Do a selfless act to help someone this week and you will be blessed so much and you will lay up a treasure in heaven.
Dear Lord,
Help us to keep material things in the proper perspective, and help us to realize that our treasures need to be centered around selfless acts of service that would be pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
I just read about a Wal-Mart employee getting trampled to death by some 2,000 people who rushed the doors to get to wonderful sales.
I find it very sad that all those people were so driven by material things that a human life did not matter to them. Jesus did not approve of loving material things more than serving others. In the above verse Jesus spoke to a rich man after the man had asked him how he could obtain eternal life. The rich man had obeyed the commandments since his youth, so he thought there would be no problem about getting eternal life. But you see Jesus knew this man’s heart and the one thing he loved more than getting eternal life was his riches. That is so very sad because when we die we will not be taking any of our things with us. When the need for things overcomes our need for the Lord, then our faith suffers and ultimately it could keep us from eternal life. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. But store up yourselves treasures in heaven ……for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV). I believe that the treasures that we store up in heaven are the selfless acts Jesus told us to do. Jesus said “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matt.25:34-36 NIV). So take time this week to analyze where your treasure lies, and what you are doing to acquire your treasure in heaven. Do a selfless act to help someone this week and you will be blessed so much and you will lay up a treasure in heaven.
Dear Lord,
Help us to keep material things in the proper perspective, and help us to realize that our treasures need to be centered around selfless acts of service that would be pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Fear the Lord by Ann E. Broughton
"Now fear the Lord and serve him with faithfulness.........But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve................But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24: 14-15 NIV).
In this passage of the Bible, Joshua had led the Israelites to the promised land and had given them an ultimatum. The Israelites had a history of serving the Lord and then worshiping idols. It was a cycle that repeated itself. Joshua told the people that they needed to stop worshiping the idols of the other lands and that they should serve the Lord. They all agreed and because of Joshua's declaration that his household would serve the Lord, the Israelites followed the Lord during his whole lifetime. That is quite a testimony for a man who stood up for God and lived it all of his life. This should be an inspiration for us. It is not enough to go to church on Sunday. It is so important that our households see Christ in us in every aspect of our lives. Otherwise, they will view our faith as only going to church. It is so much more than that. It is trying our best to be what Christ would want us to be every day. I have written in my Bible this phrase. "I will do the best I can for Jesus' sake today where I am." Reading the Bible and seeing how Jesus lived can help us with this. His life is so full of examples of how we should live. He showed us how to have compassion for those less fortunate, to love one another, to forgive those who wrong us, just to name a few. He was in constant prayer to his father and obeyed him even to the point of death on a cross so that we can have eternal life. What are you doing to show others that your faith is genuine? Maybe it is time to take a look at what you truly believe and be the example Christ wants you to be so that your household and the generations that follow you will serve the Lord. It only takes one person to make a difference.
Dear Lord,
Help us to take the stand to follow you and serve you the way you want us to. We know it can be difficult, but we also know that you have promised us that you will never leave us or forsake us as long as we do your will. Fill us with your wisdom so that we can help our household to serve you also.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
In this passage of the Bible, Joshua had led the Israelites to the promised land and had given them an ultimatum. The Israelites had a history of serving the Lord and then worshiping idols. It was a cycle that repeated itself. Joshua told the people that they needed to stop worshiping the idols of the other lands and that they should serve the Lord. They all agreed and because of Joshua's declaration that his household would serve the Lord, the Israelites followed the Lord during his whole lifetime. That is quite a testimony for a man who stood up for God and lived it all of his life. This should be an inspiration for us. It is not enough to go to church on Sunday. It is so important that our households see Christ in us in every aspect of our lives. Otherwise, they will view our faith as only going to church. It is so much more than that. It is trying our best to be what Christ would want us to be every day. I have written in my Bible this phrase. "I will do the best I can for Jesus' sake today where I am." Reading the Bible and seeing how Jesus lived can help us with this. His life is so full of examples of how we should live. He showed us how to have compassion for those less fortunate, to love one another, to forgive those who wrong us, just to name a few. He was in constant prayer to his father and obeyed him even to the point of death on a cross so that we can have eternal life. What are you doing to show others that your faith is genuine? Maybe it is time to take a look at what you truly believe and be the example Christ wants you to be so that your household and the generations that follow you will serve the Lord. It only takes one person to make a difference.
Dear Lord,
Help us to take the stand to follow you and serve you the way you want us to. We know it can be difficult, but we also know that you have promised us that you will never leave us or forsake us as long as we do your will. Fill us with your wisdom so that we can help our household to serve you also.
In Jesus' name,
Amen
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