Devotion
Away in a manger
David Jacobs
It is not easy to always know which way God's path is heading. Sometimes we may feel as though we are lost; sometimes we might need a little push in the right direction; sometimes we might be blazing our own trail. In these verses, the shepherds and Mary could not fully grasp or understand what God had in store for them at this time. It would seem impossible that they could comprehend the gravity of the situation and react accordingly. Their actions in these verses, however, also indicate that they have been touched by God and understand His majesty and power, wanting to spread it to anyone that will listen.
Think of Mary and the shepherds as examples to aspire to: how do we spread the message of Christ to others in our lives? It is true that God and angels intervened in their situations, but have we not been touched by God in our own lives? You may have heard the phrase "pay it forward." A positive story shared with friends can have a profound effect on their life. They may, in turn, "pay it forward," sharing another positive story or deed with another person. The actions that day, away in a manger, have had an enormously positive effect on the entire world for thousands of years! The actions and words of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds have helped generations live in a more positive and meaningful way. We should take all these things and ponder on them within our hearts, until their innate truth is revealed, until their prophecies are fulfilled before our very eyes. Then share it with all the world, hoping that they share their own truths as a result.
Prayer
Lord God in Heaven, thy kingdom has come, on Earth as it is in Heaven. I pray to you that you may sharpen my mind and tongue, so that I may reflect and share the meditations of my heart, O Lord. I pray that the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, my strength and my redeemer. As the shepherds shared their story, help me to share mine, so that we may help others to see your truths. I pray all this in your holy name, Amen.
Night Prayer
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Inspiration
Anger is a natural emotion we will feel at one time or another. Anger can be dangerous if we allow it to control our lives; acting out of fury does not reflect the righteousness of God. In anger, we shout out hurtful words, and bitterness stirs up jealousy in our hearts. Anger pushes people away from us; they lack respect for us and begin to think poorly of our character. We understand this is not a reflection of God, and we must take our emotions to Him before we hurt people.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we become angry throughout our lifetime. Please forgive us for our outbursts and teach us to stop allowing anger to control our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Devotion
Priorities, Priorities!
Frances Taylor
Does Jesus really want us to believe that our enemies are our parents, children, family or friends? Somehow, I don't think so! It is really about priorities. Have you ever chosen to watch a sports program when your child wanted to talk to you? What about not sitting at the table for meals because a special game is on? We are called on to make choices all the time. We can choose God, or we can choose other. Is that late night party worth missing church? We can talk all we want about being too busy, but the truth is that we find the time for what we want to do. I love to read, knit, spend time with my friends and I hate doing the laundry, dishes, vacuuming, but it all needs to be done. I would rather pick up a good book than exercise. I can say that I am "too busy" to do the things I don't enjoy doing, but the truth is, I choose to spend my time in other ways. The same is true about putting God first. A friend that is always put last doesn't ...
Night Prayer
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Inspiration
We often blame God for struggles in our lives. We feel that He does not care for us or isn't all-powerful. We ask why He isn't parting seas or moving mountains for us. Sometimes, it's tempting to blame God and stop trusting Him altogether. God does not tempt us to reject Him, and struggles occur because we live in an imperfect world. God uses our hardships to grow closer to us by strengthening our character and faith. We will not blame Him for our difficulties. Instead, we will continue to praise His name and rest peacefully in His loving arms.
Prayer
Dear God, we struggle daily in this imperfect world. You are our hope in the darkness, and we will continue to lean on Your everlasting arms in comfort and peace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
