Our Wish for you is that you are touched by the message

and

the Messenger of Christmas.

May His Blessing rest on you today!

...In a Manger

“And this shall be a sign unto you;

You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12

He was royalty.

He was a King.

As a matter of fact, He was The King of Kings.

Yet, He was born into this messy world in a messy place.

The greatest King the globe would ever know was born in a manger.

Those words – born in a manger – are so familiar to us now and somehow the reality of what that meant alludes us.

The High and Mighty one came to us lowly and meekly.

He came to us not in a palace but lying in an animals feeding trough.

Those who would be kings could not imagine a more ignominious entry into the world.

But...He is coming again.

He will return as reigning King to judge the earth.

This Christmas as we remember and celebrate His birth won’t you say yes to the King?

Yes, come into and change my heart and life.

For that reason He was born!

  

Blessed Sleep

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,

    for you alone, Lord,

    make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 4:8

A good night’s sleep is so elusive to many.

A racing mind, vivid dreams, restless hearts; they all make for a tough time closing your eyes and sleeping peacefully.

But according to Psalm 127, God gives His beloved sleep.

How wonderful to rest and sleep in peace and safety.

How wonderful God is to His children.

Perhaps sleep, I mean deep, peaceful, restful sleep has been hard for you to come by.

Take the time today to pray before you put head to pillow.

Ask God for that restful sleep He has promised and as you close your eyes consider His many multiplied blessings.

As you drift off to sleep know that He continues to care for and love you.

He never slumbers nor sleeps and will not weary of watching over you.

And may you sleep the sleep of the blessed tonight.

Multiplication

“May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you

[filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God].”

Jude 2

I suppose there are a lot of different things that can be multiplied to you; some good and some not so good things.

It seems that at times in life troubles can pile up and one bad thing happens after another.

How refreshing then, these words from the tiny little Book of Jude which is found just before the Book of Revelation in your Bible.

Imagine for a moment the life that has mercy, peace and love multiplied to it.

I would have to guess that person would attract a lot of others to themselves.

But because that multiplication happens as we walk closely with God what a wonderful way to introduce others to Him.  

I don’t know many people who would turn away from mercy, peace or love.

Even those who claim to be atheists or agnostics would be drawn to the man or woman whose life is filled with these attributes.

But the best news of all – this is another one of those ‘whosoever’ promises.

God will push no one away who desires to walk closely with Him.

As a matter of fact, here is another of the ‘whosoever’ promises available to you –

“Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you.”

James 4:8a

Who Would Turn Down This Gift?

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

Peace is defined as a persons’ inner sense of contentment, comfort, trust and quietness, regardless of the surrounding circumstances they are facing.

Can you sleep through a storm?

Jesus did.

The waves were tossing the little boat and the wind was howling.

Still He continued to sleep.

That is, until the panicked disciples woke him up.

I have been in a storm at sea.

It can be frightening, even on a large vessel.

Some of His disciples were skilled fisherman who had probably encountered storms before but this one clearly frightened them.

They needed Jesus awake – all hands on deck I guess.  

But Jesus was able to sleep in the midst of the storm because the same peace He spoke to the wind and the waves was also the peace that dwelled in Him.

Most importantly, it is the same peace He offers you.

There will still be storms that rage around you but, like Jesus, you can know peace in the midst of them.

Now that’s a gift worth receiving, wouldn’t you agree?

My Feelings are Hurt!

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

Peace is defined as a persons’ inner sense of contentment, comfort, trust and quietness, regardless of the surrounding circumstances they are facing.

We live in a world of offended people.

It is so easy to be offended.

It almost seems like a national pastime lately to see what can offend someone.

Your work, your boss, your spouse, maybe even your paycheck have offended you.

Just turn on the news and listen; people are offended by Christmas songs and greeting, by statues honoring heroes in history.

I know, I know, there are as many ‘legitimate’ reasons for offense as there are offenses.

But what quality of life is it when we go through it always hurt by what someone else said or did.

How do you develop a thicker skin?

How do you become ‘unoffendable’?

“Those who love Your law have great peace; Nothing makes them stumble.” Psalm 119:165 Amp

Did you catch that?

Nothing, that is, N-O   T-H-I-N-G makes them stumble.

NADA

When we immerse ourselves and are in love with the Word of God and not in all the noise around us we build a thicker skin.

We are no longer offended by every little (or big) thing.  

Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

Peace is defined as a persons’ inner sense of contentment, comfort, trust and quietness, regardless of the surrounding circumstances they are facing.

When I was a teen-ager it was popular to raise a hand and, with two fingers forming a “V”,   greet someone by saying “peace”.

As well intentioned as some may have been, that was not the biblical peace that Jesus spoke of.

The peace that Jesus gives is most unique.

It is not given by the world; it is not simply a lack of adversity or troubles and is not necessarily evidenced by a serene demeanor.

The peace that Jesus gives cannot be taken away by the world.

It is a gift from God and is often most obvious in the lives of individuals when they are in the midst of the storms of life.

How appropriate that Gods’ peace is not dictated by the circumstances we may find ourselves in.

We can know the peace of God when all hell is breaking loose around us.

Jesus gives us peace.

It is His peace in us and is not quenched by the ups and downs of life.

Have you asked Him for the gift of His peace?