GOLDEN WORDS

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14



On that first Christmas morning, the world must have seemed a hard place to Mary At the end of a weary journey there was "no room at the inn." The only shelter offered to her was the "lowly cattle shed." I find this a great mystery and a great wonder. |
Every day science discovers more and more of the complex wisdom of God. Anyone who uses his mind has a much bigger idea of God than our grandfathers, or even our fathers ever had. Yet God has been here on the planet in person. What we are celebrating ... is not the feast of jolly old Father Christmas or good King Wenceslaus, or a beautiful fairy-tale. We are celebrating the visit of God. How marvelous! 

~ J. B. Phillips in For This Day

December 4

"You shall rise up before the gray-headed, and honor the aged" (Leviticus 19:32). 

This verse reminds us that the aged are entitled to an extra measure of respect. Courtesy and refinement will never go out of style, no matter how old man or earth becomes.

When Jesus was dying He made sure His mother was taken care of: "`Dear woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, `Here is your mother'" (John 19:26b,27a). The aged represent (or should) many years in God's, spouse's and children's service; His providential care; the fruits of grace; mature wisdom in dealing with life's problems; and nearness to eternity.


Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

Who said:  "The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Previous question and Answer: Who said: "Is thy servant a dog that he should do this thing?". Answer: Hazael, when told by Elisha of the life he was destined to live. And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

 

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for December 4	Spurgeon's Evening for December 4
"I have much people in this city." - Acts 18:10	"Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." - Romans 8:23
This should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people who must be saved.	Some men groan after wealth-they worship Mammon; some groan continually under the troubles of life-they are merely impatient; but the man who sighs after God, who is uneasy till he is made like Christ, that is the blessed man.

 

December 4  Eph 4:1 - 6:24 Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

 

Headlines     When Orville and Wilbur Wright finally succeeded in keeping their homemade airplane in the air for fifty-nine seconds on December 17, 1903, they rushed a telegram to their sister in Dayton, Ohio, telling of this great accomplishment. The telegram read, "First sustained flight today fifty-nine seconds. Hope to be home by Christmas." Upon receiving the news the sister was so excited about the success that she rushed to the newspaper office and gave the telegram to the editor.  The next morning-believe it or not-the newspaper headline stated in black, bold letters, "POPULAR LOCAL BICYCLE MERCHANTS TO BE HOME FOR HOLIDAYS." The scoop of the century was missed because an editor missed the point. Yet isn't that what happens every year at this time. People rush around buying gifts. The music of "Silent Night, Holy Night" is played on radio stations and in shopping malls. There is talk of peace on earth and good will to all men. Miniature manger scenes are set up in many homes. Yet for all this activity, much of the world misses the point of Christmas. They never understand that the greatest gift ever given was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. And so, we spend more time telling about the coming of Santa than the coming of the Savior.  unknown  Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Christmas Quotation, Fact and Inspiration.

Advent 1

Advent 2

Advent 3

Advent 4

 

Today's  Devotion

 

... ...and by his light I walked through darkness!    JOB 29:3 NIV     Energized by Pat Nordman   "The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength." 2 Timothy 4:17 NIV My husband and I heard our oldest son Chuck scream and then shoot himself to death. It was 7:10 P.M. on a dark December night, physically and spiritually. But I want to share with you something that even to this day I believe is remarkable: the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength! We talk of miracles and throwing out our fleeces, and we moan that we no longer live in the age of miracles. I don't believe that. Miracles happen all the time, and I consider what happened that light-less and desperate night one of the greatest sensations of my life, even as we stood there appalled and disbelieving that such a thing could happen. I actually felt a Presence beside me as thoughts raced through my horrified mind. I can't explain it but I know I felt it. As the sad months went by and we tried to gather the fragments of mind and spirit, I would think about that Presence and give thanks that He was--and still is--there. Otherwise, I don't know how I could have kept going that night. A companion verse is Psalm 110:5 TLB: "God stands beside you to protect you." I thought of this verse, too, that night when I thought of the article I had recently read about the young man who killed his mother and father before he killed himself. God protected us that night, another miracle. One of the greatest statements of faith is found in Daniel 3:17,18 : "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it...But if he doesn't..." But if He doesn't...! I recall begging God to not let this horror happen. But it did happen. Sometimes what we pray for doesn't happen, but God compensates, of that I am sure. Several months after Chuck's death I wrote a booklet, literally on my knees, that was eventually published and went into a world-wide ministry. Chuck lives in these hearts that have been comforted! © Pat Nordman   Miracles happen all the time, and I consider what happened that light-less and desperate night one of the greatest sensations of my life...

 

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