Daily and Weekly Christian Inspiration
A survey ranked Jesus as # 3 of the top influential leaders of all time simply because His followers are less faithful in obeying His commandments!
“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, His precepts!” ~Benjamin Franklin
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”
After Mary’s 3 month stay with her cousin Elizabeth, when Mary returned to her home she was “showing”. Those in whom Christ is formed will show it, it will be found to be a work of God which He will own. (Matthew Henry Commentary)
During your Christmas devotion time reflect on the above thought – Are you “showing” to your family and friends that Christ is being formed in you?
Christmas is forever, not for just one day,for loving, sharing and giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.The good you do for others is good you do yourself…~Norman Wesley Brooks
After taking heed of the following word from my heavenly Papa, John and I decided to host a Christmas open house for over 50 of our neighbors. Many we hadn’t seen in years as we are all so busy . . . . and some we had never met. It was a time of sweet fellowship and an opportunity for us to just stop for an evening and invest time in each other. A great time of joy and blessing was had by all. Consider opening up your home, share the love of Christ and the true joy of the season through investing in old and new relationships.If we lived nearby we would love to invite you all to our open house!
Dear Child,
The joy of the season is found in relationships not in things!
Firstly a restored relationship with Me, and then the grace that I give that you may restore broken relationships with others, and to invest even more in current relationships.
Love cannot be displayed without relationships. In loving you find the meaning for living.
Love is only love when you give it away, and in order to give you must have someone to give it to. Therefore you must invest in relationships. If you are giving with the right motivation you will have joy. If you don’t have joy in giving, look inside and check the motivation.
Thus saith Papa.
“ONE SOLITARY LIFE” by James Allan Francis is my favorite Christmas devotion and I pray it will also bless you.
He was born in an obscure village,
The child of a peasant woman.
He grew up in still another village,
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty.
Then for three years
He was an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never had a family or owned a house.
He didn’t go to college.
He never visited a big city.
He never traveled two hundred miles
From the place where he was born.
He did none of the things
One usually associates with greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.
He was only thirty-three
When the tide of public opinion turned against him.
His friends ran away.
He was turned over to his enemies.
And went through the mockery of a trial.
He was nailed to a cross
Between two thieves.
While he was dying,
His executioners gambled for his clothing,
The only property he had on Earth.
When he was dead,
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend.
Twenty centuries have come and gone,
And today he is the central figure
Of the human race,
And the leader of mankind’s progress.
All the armies that ever marched,
All the navies that ever sailed,
All the parliament that ever sat,
All the kings that ever reigned,
Put together have not affected
The life of man on Earth
As much as that ONE SOLITARY LIFE