Never Empty
2 Kings 4:3 “…Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars…” 7 “…sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”
Life is not a straight line, things happen to us. We get battered and we lose stuff. But the mistake most people make is to lose hope because of the things they have lost. Read the rest of this entry
Unlikely Rescue
Isa.46:3 “Listen to me, …I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
As adults, one of the things we learn with responsibility is, we like to own the outcome of the events in our lives. But there are certain times that you just need to do your best and leave the burden of outcomes to Jesus. Read the rest of this entry
The Gift
Luke 2:10 “but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”
Jesus is saying to us this morning, if you want to give Me a gift, find someone that cannot pay you back and give the person a gift. Visit the hospitals and go to the prisons, let that be your birthday gift to Jesus. Read the rest of this entry
The Response
Prov.8:19 “My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!”
You really cannot be appreciative of any gift until you unwrap it. You cannot really say, thank you, until you see the content of the gift. Josh came back home early from work to surprise his wife on her birthday. Read the rest of this entry
Look Inside
Matt.2:10 “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” [with emphasis].
These men were rather wealthy and well advanced in age but as soon as they saw Jesus, they bowed and worshipped Him. The question to you as we celebrate Christmas is, what is keeping you from bowing to Jesus? Read the rest of this entry
Posture
Ps.95:6 “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker”
Unfortunately, some people are still arguing if Christians should celebrate Christmas. People are still saying perhaps it has an occultic background or that the early church did not celebrate Christmas. Read the rest of this entry
True Worth
Matt.7:11 [MSG] “You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?”
Children typically do not question the parent’s direction, they just follow. Even when they ask questions, it is just for asking sake. We must be like these little children with God. Read the rest of this entry
No Conditions
John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”
Yesterday’s devotional ended on a sober note. How could that child die for a mother who probably was not even worth it? We do not often say things like that in such situations, but we think about it. Read the rest of this entry
Childlike
Mark 10:14 “…Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” [with emphasis].
When God looks at you and calls you champion, it is not wishful thinking or motivational speaking. God is not just trying to make you feel good and He is not just trying to pep you up. Read the rest of this entry
Champion?
Judges 6:12 “The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
I can imagine that Gideon was probably alarmed because what the Angel was saying was nothing close to what he could see with his own two eyes. Read the rest of this entry
