The New Year is here!
Gone is any doubt that the world would end on December 21, 2012, according to the Mayan calendar.
So things continue as usual. It seems to me that it continues to get worse and not better. Continue reading
Month: December 2012
Good as Gold
In the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, there is a point in which Mrs. Cratchit asks Bob how Tiny Tim behaved in church.
“As good as gold,” said Bob, “and better. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sitting by himself so much, and thinks the strangest things you ever heard. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.” Continue reading
What will that child be?
I think it was my 7th grade school teacher that wanted every one of her students to give her a small school picture. Her reasoning was if one of us became an astronaut or president, she’d have a recollection of us and could say, “That was one of my students!”
I only have a vague memory of that year and so I’m not sure what each of those 7th graders have gone on to do. Continue reading
The real Christmas story!
What is traditionally included in the Christmas story?
There’s the trip to Bethlehem, the “No Vacancy” sign at the inn, manger, shepherds and angels, a star, and wisemen.
If you see a Nativity set up that is what you will see. Continue reading
Are you a GPS for Jesus?
She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:7-12 Continue reading
God reveals!
I have met many Christians with some “wild” stories of miracles, visions, prophecies, and other things that God has done. For several years I just kind of rolled my eyes and thought “nut case”.
Such is the way I was raised and taught in church. I have learned and experienced something quite different since that time.
Joseph had such a mindset as me. Continue reading
What will you endure?
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. Continue reading
God’s direction or People’s advice?
Do you ever get unwanted advice from anyone? They just offer their opinion on what they think you should do!
I know some people who will tell you how, when, and where you should do it. They will explain how they did it or that they tried it your way and it won’t work. Continue reading
Need a blessing – Give a blessing!
Sometimes you need a sign, some sort of confirmation on what you believe God has told you.
You need some scripture or a prophecy from someone you trust that speaks to your heart about the things God has laid on your heart.
Maybe such was the case with Mary. Continue reading
I am the Lord’s servant
I remember my first in-the-pulpit devotion. I was petrified but I also liked it – a lot! I remember after my next devotional, the pastor approached me and said he thought God may be calling me into the ministry.
ME…A PREACHER? You’ve got to be kidding. Continue reading
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 