Silent Night

 

Silent Night

“Silent Night” is a favorite Christ­mas song for many people around the world. Its gentle melody suggests a “heavenly peace” in which “all is calm.”

But our usual picture of Jesus’ birth is far from calm. Above the fields near Bethlehem, an angel army sings out, announcing the glory of God. Back in town, shepherds and wise men and sheep, cows, camels, and gifts are all crowded together in a stable. And somewhere in the midst of all that commotion is the baby Jesus.

But hold on. The wise men don’t show up until later. So let’s take them out of the picture, along with their gifts. And there’s no mention of a stable—just a manger, a feeding trough. So there might not be animals there either.

Now let’s back up to the first hour or two after Jesus’ birth. Commotion will come later, when the shepherds find “Mary and Joseph, and the baby . . . lying in the manger” (Luke 2:16). But for now, as lamplight flickers, all we can see is Mary and the baby and Joseph. Exhausted, Mary is fast asleep. Joseph might be able to rest too. Meanwhile, Mary’s snugly wrapped baby, content from his first feeding, sees light, shadow, and movement with his newborn eyes. Let’s stay right where we are, silent as night. And let’s take in the picture. The God of all creation is a newborn baby watching shadows sway.

Jesus, on that night long ago you came to be “God with us,” one of us. Thank you! Amen.

(Credit: Bob Arbogast)

Bob Arbogast is the pastor of Celebration Fellowship church in Ionia, Michigan. In his spare time, he plays guitar in a West Michigan blues band. He and his wife Jan have been married forty years and have three adult daughters. Bob has been praying the psalms since 2002.Arbogast

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Just to add a bit to this devotion, I have to say, perhaps it was a Silent Night once Jesus came into the world and slept in the manager close to his parents.

But on the other hand, what a night that had been.

It was like no other.

Then or since then.

No other god, real or false can make the claim

that brought Jesus into a dark world that night.

The Word was made flesh and He came and dwelt among us.

And that my Friends

was the miracle of that

Silent Night!

Thanks for coming by.

God bless you!

Jesus, the Good News

 

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

—  Luke 2:10-11

At the time when Jesus was born, life for shepherds was hard. Their days and nights were spent in the dreary routine of taking care of sheep. Society looked down on them as lowlifes and scoundrels. They had little reason to be joyful.

But shepherds were the ones to whom the angel brought the good news that would cause great joy: A Savior had been born! It was God’s way of saying that he identifies with the down and out, the outcasts of society, the undesirables. And on that night, whatever darkness they were facing was transformed into the most beautiful light they’d ever seen, as the angels of heaven joined in singing, “Glory to God in the highest. . . .” For those shepherds out in the fields of Bethlehem, life would never be the same.

Perhaps on this Christmas Day you are finding it difficult to feel joy. Perhaps there is an empty chair at your table. Perhaps you’re thinking about a family member who has turned away from the Lord or is no longer a part of your life. Perhaps you have been diagnosed with a terrible illness. Whatever the reason, you don’t feel like celebrating.

If so, the Christmas message is for you. There is good news with great joy also for you. Why? Because the Savior came to make things right. He came to heal the brokenhearted, to bring light into your darkness.

Father in heaven, help us to catch a glimpse of the light the Savior came to bring. We ask this in his name. Amen.

(Credit: Arthur J. Schoonveld}

When God was preparing the way for the birth of Jesus, He chose ordinary people to parent him on earth. 

And who would the Angel announce His birth to but the Shepards in their fields of sheep. People that were looked down on by society. 

And then when Jesus started his ministry of spreading His gospel, who did he call to go with Him?

Ordinary men with ordinary professions.

I am thankful that Jesus chooses ordinary people because if he hadn't there would have been no hope for me.

Or for some of the Christians that I know. 

He came to give all who put their trust in Him the hope of Heaven. 

I pray that no matter who you are, or what your profession is, that you have that hope that He freely gives.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. God bless you!!!

So Be it Lord

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38

 

Some years ago, a Christmas musical included Mary saying, “If the Lord has spoken, I must do as he commands. I will put my life into his hands. I will trust him with my life.”

That was Mary’s response to the surprise announcement that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Whatever the consequences, she was able to say, “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Mary was ready to surrender her life to the Lord, even if it meant that she might be disgraced in the eyes of everyone who knew her. And because she trusted the Lord with her life, she became the mother of Jesus and could celebrate the coming of the Savior. Mary took God at his word, accepted God’s will for her life, and placed herself in God’s hands.

That’s what it takes to truly celebrate Christmas: to believe what is completely unbelievable to many people, to accept God’s will for our lives, and to place ourselves in God’s service, trusting that our lives are in his hands. Only then will we be able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Ask the Holy Spirit today to help you trust God with your life and to turn the controls of your life over to him. When you do, your life will never be the same.

Lord, our God, please give us faith to believe that the child we celebrate on Christmas is your Son, our Savior. Help us to acknowledge him as Lord and to trust him with our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Can we imagine the courage it must have taken for Mary to step up to such a magnificent plate?

This was not just an unordinary thing that God was calling her to do.

Could we have done it?

What would have been our response?

Mary was sold out to her God.

It makes us wonder-if in fact we dare to-how sold out to our God we are.

God used Mary in a special way.

In the most special way possible.

And going forth into the coming months and years,

what might He call us to?

Whatever it is, will we be as willing to say as Mary did,

"SO BE IT LORD"

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Have a blessed day!

Post update

 Hello Friends

Just a note. I am not going to post any new content for the next 2 or 3 days.

I am not sure if I will be back on Monday or if it will be Tuesday.  

Thanks for your patience and God's blessings on you.

Out of Darkness, into the LIGHT!

God is at work in the darkness.

Why did Jesus come? How would you answer that? Most people might say “to save us” or “to show God’s love” or something similar. That’s true. But the apostle John gives a rather unexpected and clear statement as to why Jesus came. He said, “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8).
Immediately after the Fall, God made a promise. He told the serpent (the devil) that from the offspring of Eve would eventually come someone who would crush the head of the serpent (see Genesis 3:15). Known as the proto-evangelium, this is the first reference to the good news that the Savior would come to destroy the devil’s work and redeem us.
Christmas, then, is a reminder that even in our broken world full of darkness, sin, and evil – God is still at work, bringing light to those in darkness.(Credit: Hope for the Heart)
💝💝💝It's a very chilly day in my part of the world today. As in many of your parts as well. Thank the Lord that once the chilly darkness passes on to spring in a few months, and the season will change to provide more light as well.But we can also thank Him that he never changes. What is that verse that tells us that?Oh, thats right.For I am the Lord, I change not... Malachi 3:6And.....  for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1Because His word says it, we can trust it.When Jesus spoke to them again, he said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12Yes, the days are shorter now. The darkness comes sooner than we'd like. But the promise of more light is coming soon.Even greater still, there is someone who is true Light is coming soon also. He has made that promise to us. And when he comes in all of his glory, the darkness will be expelled.Are you ready? I hope so and I pray that is true for you, my friend!Thanks for coming by. God bless you and yours