Your will Be Done in 2026

 

THIS PRAYER POEM WAS SENT TO ME BY MY SISTER, LINDA, IN RESPONSE TO SOMETHING I WROTE ON FACEBOOK.

“I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, place me with whom You will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low for You. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine, and I am Yours. May it be so. And may the covenant which I have just made here on earth be confirmed in heaven. Amen.” (This prayer is part of the New Year’s Covenant that John Wesley—1703-1791—established for the Methodist church.

Wise Men Still Follow Him

The wise men or magi followed the Lord Jesus's star seeking Him.  They were not Jewish and represent people from all nations and tribes searching for and coming to know the Lord.  Wise men and woman still follow and obey the the Lord today.  They still seek Him.    Below are some interesting facts stated about the wise men on the internet: 

"The biblical story of the Wise Men (Magi) from Matthew 2 tells of scholars from the East who followed a special star to find the newborn "King of the Jews". They arrived in Jerusalem, prompting King Herod to inquire where the Messiah would be born (Bethlehem), then sent the Magi to find the child, promising to worship him too. The star guided them to Jesus's home, where they worshipped Him, offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, thus foiling his plot to kill the child.  

Who Were the Magi?

From the East: 
Likely from Persia (modern Iran) or similar regions, known for astrology and knowledge of prophecies. 
Not Necessarily Kings: 
The Bible calls them "Magi," a term for priestly scholars or astrologers; tradition later made them kings. 
Symbolic Gifts: 
Gold (for a king), frankincense (for divinity), and myrrh (for sacrifice/death). 

Significance

Fulfillment of Prophecy: Their visit fulfilled Old Testament prophecies about a ruler from Bethlehem. 
Worship of Christ: They foreshadowed the future worship of Jesus by people from all nations. 
Divine Guidance: The star was a supernatural sign, and dreams guided the Magi and Joseph."

Christ, the Savior

 

Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve.  It and Christmas day itself is when we celebrate Jesus Christ's birth and His leaving His perfect place in heaven to come to this earth to die and pay for our sins. On that wonderful night the sky was filled with angels praising God, and the shepherds rushed to see this new born king and savior as directed by the angels.  It is possible that the wise men did not arrive untll about two years later looking for Jesus.  They brought gifts, and they too rejoiced over His birth and worshiped Him. Let us also worship and praise Him!

Joy to the world! The Lordis come!  Enjoy the link to this song below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX6ThHbts5Y&list=RDTX6ThHbts5Y&start_radio=1 

Christmas Tree Lessons

 The Christmas tree is a symbol of  eternal life purchased by Jesus Christ on the cross.  The gifts which may be under our trees remind us of the accompanying gifts to eternal life of joy, peace, and the Lord's presence in our lives even in times of deep trial and grief.

Beautiful Psalm 46 reminds of these gifts.  In life's worst case scenarios we need not fear.  No matter what transpires in our lives we can be secure in Lord.  Let us rejoice in the words of that Psalm:

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Memories

As I think of sweet memories in this Thanksgiving/Christmas season, I am thankful.

(This picture is of Bob and I seven years ago, the Thanksgiving before we married.)

(These pictures above are of my sisters and I and of all my siblins and in-laws a few months before my sister, Nancy, graduated to Heaven.   I  apologize for the quality of some of the pictures.)

Be thankful for the blessings and memories with which God has blessed you.

Grief

 

Below is a devotional from my Grief Share devotionals which come to my e-mail  box each day. Since all of us experience grief in our lives at some point, may you be blessed and challenged by this devotional. dear Christian:

Embracing the Change in Your Life

Day 282

Grief will either make you a better person or it will cause you to harden your heart as you resist its lessons. You have the opportunity for unparalleled spiritual growth. This will not happen quickly, but you can grow deeply. By learning that life is a precious gift, you can do more than just exist; you can live on a higher plane.

It was when Isaiah’s friend died that he had a deeper experience of God.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory’” (Isaiah 6:1-3).

Lord, I want to live above all the garbage that goes on in my mind. I want to grow spiritually and discover You like never before. Amen.

Because He Lives I can Face Tomorrow

 

 

Sometimes as believers we allow ourselves to get weighed down with worry and anxiety, but this is useless and unnecessary.  Because Christ lives, we as Christians can face tomorrow!  All fear can be gone, becaue we know He holds the future.  He not only holds our future, but He also hold our hands. Sometime before my late sister's death her husband and her sang the song, "Because He Lives" on YouTube.  That testimony of her faith is such a treasure to me.  It is encouragememt as well to my own faith walk.   Life is worth the living, just because He lives!

I will post a link to that song sung by them below.  May you be blessed by the  song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdAyn8xkGFQ&list=RDGMEMMib4QpREwENw3_jAc0YgNwVMGdAyn8xkGFQ&start_radio=1