Christmas Lights

December 3, 2015

Christmas lights are so beautiful. Darkness falls and even the most barren property, the scrawniest tree, the ugly streets become a sparkling sight to see. 

Some people spend a lot of money for the lights of Christmas. Others may only have a little string of lights or a few candles. The mall and shops are full of glowing lights. There are people who refuse to light their home or have a tree.

However a person may feel about decorating for Chrismas they still enjoy the sight of what others have done. 

Jesus is the light of the world. His light shines in the hearts of people who believe in Him and have trusted Him as their Savior. Others receive the benefits He brings into the world. He blesses the just and the unjust.

This season when you enjoy the decorations and especially the lights think about Jesus and the light He brings to your life.

John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas

December 2, 2015

“Happy Holidays” is what you hear when shopping this year. Store cashiers and employees are trained not to say “Merry Christmas.” We must not offend anyone. What a shame. Just one more way the enemy has used to take Christ out of Christmas.

As Christians our response should be “Merry Christmas”. There would be no Holy day without Jesus. Let us honor our Lord every chance we get. Keep Christ in Christmas by your words but more importantly keep Him first in your heart. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

1 Peter 2:17  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

The First Promise

December 1, 2015

Genesis 3:15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The first prophesy about Jesus is found in Genesis. Man sinned and God had a plan to redeem mankind from sin. Throughout the Bible many promises of the Savior are recorded. This is the first. Today we can be thankful that the plan of salvation is clear from all the scripture. Jesus birth was the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise. Let us remember the reason for the season and keep Christ the center of our activities.

The Perfect Gift

November 30, 2015

The next 25 days for a lot of people will be the busiest time of year preparing for that perfect Christmas gift. Shopping in crowded stores, looking at catalogs, shopping on line. 

The best gift you can give anyone is telling them about Jesus. For your unsaved friend, coworker or relative their best gift would be receiving Jesus as their Savior.

For your Christian loved ones a time of fellowship, a phone call or a message. Your time is more precious than any gift you could possibly buy.

Enjoy the Christmas season but don’t forget the best gift ever given…..Jesus.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

True Worship

November 29, 2015

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
People worship in different ways. Some think that worship is in music, others think prayer is the only way to worship God, the religious crowd think that church is the only place to worship and there is a group that believes that the outdoors and nature is where to better worship God. 
All of these things can be part of true worship, but there are two things that must be in the heart when we worship. Spirit and truth. Our spirit must be in tune with God and worship must come from the heart not any ritual or outward appearance.

God Answers Prayer

November 28, 2015

The blessings of answered prayer. Nicky,the physical therapist that Tom led to the Lord a few weeks ago, came into the house all excited yesterday.

On his last visit Nicky was worried he had no one to care for his small daughter on the Friday after Thanksgiving as both he and his wife had to work. Tom prayed that someone would be found to watch her for free.

The answer: Nicky’s sister called him and asked if she could please watch the little girl for the day as she wanted to spend more time with her niece. Nicky then realize that that was a direct answer to prayer and is so happy in his new Christian life.

God answers prayer. He loves it when we are specific in our requests because then there is no doubt that it is Him that brings the blessing.

Matthew 21:22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

For the Beauty of the Earth

November 27, 2015

These words that follow are a hymn written by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1835 – 1917) in the mid 1800’s. He looked around and saw the beauty God created and wanted to praise the Creator. We also should be thankful and give praise to our great God and Savior for everything He has given us, so beautifully written in this hymn.

1. For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies; 
Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

2. For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light; 

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

3. For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind’s delight, for the mystic harmony, linking sense to sound and sight; 

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

4. For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild; 

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

5. For thy church, that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love; 

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

6. For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given, for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven: 

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

Thanksgiving

November 26, 2015

 Psalm 100

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. 

Friends

November 25, 2015

Thank the Lord for your friends. Some people think they have few friends, some have many friends.

A friend is someone who loves you in any circumstance. They laugh with you when you are happy and cry with you when you are sad, they accept you with all your faults and if you disagree they will come to an agreement even if it is to disagree agreeably. Sometimes a friend will disappoint you but they are still there for you when you need them.

 There is one true friend that is always with you and that is Jesus. For the Christian He is the closest friend you will ever have and he never disappoints you. He listens to every prayer and has the power to answer. He comforts when you are hurting or sick. He is with you in your joys and in your sorrow. 24/7 He is there.

We are thankful for our friends here on earth but most thankful for Jesus who is ever present in our lives.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times,

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Family

November 24, 2015

Usually on a holiday like Thanksgiving families get together to eat and have fellowship. Some families are very small and some families are huge with many relatives.

Families are a blessing. They are not perfect but the imperfections make each one unique. At this time of year thank God for your family. If they are live close to you you are especially blessed. If they are far away take time to pray for them today. Maybe they have passed on to Heaven and you can still be thankful for the time you had with them.

If you have unsaved relatives pray for them and do not give up. I know a daughter who prayed for her parents for over 30 years and both parents were saved just weeks before they died. God is faithful and always good.

1 Corinthians 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.