A Cleansing Breath
A teenage girl received Christ as her Savior. She was filled with peace and joy like she had never known. It felt like others had told her it would feel, kind of like taking in a deep cleansing breath, exhaling, and never, ever being the same again. She returned home wanting to share her joy. But at home her father was lying on the couch surrounded by empty beer bottles. Her mother, still in bed, cursed and wanted to know why she had left home without cleaning the kitchen. The young girl washed dishes, but hung on to her joy that she knew no one could take from her. She sang praises. She shared her joy with God. In Luke 2 when the shepherds met the Savior for the first time, they were overjoyed. Like this young girl, they too had to return to their normal life, working, herding the sheep in the field. They sang praises and glorified God. No man could take their joy of seeing Jesus exactly like the angels had told them He would be. Today we sometime get caught up in every day life and every day problems. We should never let any situation, or anyone take our joy. It is like a deep cleansing breath when we meet Christ. We will never ever be the same again. Praise His name.
Glorify Him.
Luke 2:20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.
Christmas trees were sold in
The Undecorated Tree
In a corner it stood alone.
No bright lights from its branches shone.
No colored balls of red and green,
No glittering tinsel was anywhere to be seen. The tree that stood so incomplete and bare,
Needed some attention and tender loving care.
The undecorated tree seemed such a waste.
Someone must have forgotten it in their haste.
How many lonely people do we see,
Who stand alone much like that tree?
The incomplete, who heavy burdens bear,
Need our attention and tender loving care.
Those who feel their lives are such a waste,
Should not be overlooked in our haste.
As we hang tinsel and lights that shine,
Let us each remember to take the time,
To show the love of Jesus day and night,
Decorating this world with His marvelous light.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
Dreams Changing Dreams
A young man had dreams for his future, not unattainable dreams. He wanted to work in the trade he knew, marry, and raise a family. His dreams began to change when he found the young girl he was to marry was with child, one he knew couldn’t possibly be his. What to do now? He had a dream. In the dream an angel told Joseph to marry Mary. He did. He could now continue on his with his life, his dreams as planned right? No, there was yet another dream. Joseph was told to take his family and flee. He did. He now continued with his life, even though it was not exactly how he had dreamed it would be. He then had yet another dream with an angel appearing. He told Joseph Herod was dead and it was safe to return home. He did. Some say it is wrong to dream and selfish to dream big dreams for the future. Some say dreams rarely come true. Joseph was an unselfish, caring, obedient dreamer. By following his heart and his dreams; by following God’s direction for his life; by allowing his dreams for his life to be changed by a dream from God, he helped to change the entire history of the human race. Keep on dreaming big dreams. Keep on following God’s direction for your life.
As he considered this, he fell asleep, and an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream….. Matthew 1:20
Peace
The night Jesus was born in a cattle stall Mary found peace when she held her baby in her arms. She had journeyed far literally, physically, and emotionally. One day she was a young girl planning a wedding. The next she found she was chosen to give birth to the Savior of the world. The night Jesus was born shepherds heard angels declare peace on earth. They journeyed to meet the Savior and found peace so great, they didn’t leave the way they came. After that night of peace on earth, confusion soon came. Herod ordered all male babies killed who were two and under. Can you imagine all those mothers holding their babies tightly? In Luke 12:51 Jesus tells us He did not come to bring peace, but division. Is that confusing? No, not if you consider what division He speaks of. Those who believe, and don’t believe in the Christ, in his Gospel, were divided when He was born, and are still divided even now. Those of us who believe must realize that Jesus did not come to bring peace on earth. He is peace. He is our peace in a most confusing world. He is our peace within each of us even when confusion surrounds us in our daily lives. Once we come to Him and tightly grasp His peace, we will not leave the same way we came. Yes, the journey is sometime long. Yes, we face much division on this earth, but Jesus is our peace within.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. -John 16:33