Give to those in need

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:3‭-‬4 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.6.3-4.KJV

What Child is this?

For many years we have sung this song at this time of year but I have often wondered if anyone actually searches for Him or His real identity?

The angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her that she would bear a Son Who would be called Immanuel and to name Him Jesus (Yeshua). For a teenage girl, this was fairly upsetting particularly since she was betrothed to Joseph at the time. Without going over the entire story of Jesus’ birth my only revelation is this: He was NOT born on December 25. He was born, according to the Jewish calendar, during the Feast of Tabernacles which is around late September early October.

Jesusfitsinyourheart Why is this important? Because the word used or translated “with” when the meaning of Immanuel was translated also means “to tabernacle with”. God came to live with mankind, at least for a time and physically be with His creation. Ever since the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has lived with each believer from the time that they asked Him to come into their hearts. He dwells with us!

Isn’t that a wonderful and powerful message and the best part of it is that one day soon we will be with Him too! Your life and mine will not have to end with the death of this “tabernacle” which is walking around with pains and problems! We will be with Him forever. God loves His creation enough that we will be in His Presence for eternity. No more pain or sickness or death. That is the message and the hope that we have all been given by His grace and mercy.

So why would you want to keep this glorious and life-changing news to yourself? When we are baptized into our new life with Him and we come out of the water we are like the Hebrews who were escaping from Egypt after going through the Red Sea. We are not supposed to just sit down on the shore and not move until Jesus comes and they didn’t either. They complained and whined about being in the desert but God provided for them and He does the same for us too.

We have been given a new life to live in Him and through Him because of His love and grace toward us and we should make sure to walk in that grace until He comes again. The fact that God came to live with and redeem mankind is the most wonderful act of compassion and love that can be imagined. Don’t turn away from Him just because of your idea of how your life should be. Seek Him out and find the life which you can live through Him!

The story of His birth and how we celebrate it has been handed down and changed over the years to coincide with other traditions and celebrations but the story and the message only come from the gospels. That is the story which we should be hearing and clinging to for our salvation because He, the baby in the manger, is our Savior.

Jesus, our Savior, and Redeemer

Amen!

Without love, life is nothing

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.13.2.KJV

Gadgets and doodads

Why are we so interested in these things which take up space and don’t get used? Life is not about stuff and gadgets and doodads, it is about relationships and the people in our lives, especially those in our families! We should be thankful for them and let them know how we feel about them and their contributions to our lives. Those who we attend church with should also know how much they mean to us as well. But many times we keep that information to ourselves and never really express our feelings toward them.

Even toward our family, immediate and in-laws too, we seem to keep our feelings to ourselves. Why has our society become so distant toward each other and yet many want to open our borders to people who aren’t Americans and really don’t want to become citizens? Many of them seem to only want the benefits of being considered an American but they don’t want to be an American!

Christmas and being a Christian is not about stuff or presents or doodads and gadgets, it is about celebrating the birth of Jesus Who came to bring humanity the salvation which God wants us to have. Do you believe that God wants us to be saved? I do. Because He wouldn’t have sent Jesus to be our Savior if He didn’t! Remember, if you have ever read about the Garden of Eden, God used to walk with Adam in the cool of the day. That is the type of relationship He desires to have again with us.

Not just a few of us but with every person that will repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Savior by believing in Him.

Statues and idols don’t have any power to save you. Nothing which is made by mankind, religion or otherwise, can bring salvation to your soul. Only belief in Jesus as your Savior can do that. Praying to Allah can’t do it. Praying to Mary can’t do it. Praying to your ancestors can’t give you eternal life. Only belief in Jesus and in His atonement for your sins on the cross can bring eternal salvation to you.

Walking with Him daily and following His lead in your life can bring such peaceful days to you that I can’t describe them. I have had more days of peace walking with Him for the past twenty years than I could ever imagine having without Him in my life. Granted, I don’t live in a country ripped apart by war or terrorism and I’m not wealthy since I live on disability now, but life is better since He is keeping me here to do His work until that day when He calls me home.

I still have trouble making my bills sometimes. I still wake up with my aches and pains that go with me everywhere. But…I am blessed with His Presence and His promise of eternity when this life is over. The time which we have here is a very small amount of time compared to eternity and that is my goal. To make it to the home which He has prepared for me and for you too if you will believe in Him. No more sorrow or pain or wearing glasses to see or even a watch to tell time by because we don’t need to watch the time.

We will be “like Him” when we are there, not “gods” but our bodies will be immortal and a lot better than the ones we live in now. I pray that everyone who reads this will seek Him out as their Savior so I can welcome you home or even meet you one day in eternity.

Take refuge in the Lord

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
Nahum 1:7 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/nam.1.7.KJV

Busyness

We are all too busy in our day to day lives. Even before Thanksgiving or Christmas, everyone is running all over looking for something to buy or do which will make their life better in some way. We go to work or school or to the grocery store or to a movie or to the mall and look for something which will give our life meaning and a purpose.

Except, the answer to meaning in your life is in the Bible. God gives us everything that we need for life and living and Jesus gives each of us a purpose in that life. There is no real need to look for your meaning or purpose in life because being His really is the answer to our search! Of course, most of the world around us and those in it really do try to ignore that bit of wisdom.

But…why would you ignore the Creator of everything? The evidence of His Presence is all around you and yet there are so many people who seem to be ignorant of His power or presence in their lives. If you haven’t asked Him to come into your heart then His influence over your life is limited to His call on your heart but He still cares about you. That is why He sent Jesus to die for your sins so that you could have an eternity with Him. Don’t turn away from Him when you feel His call on your heart.

Sometimes the call only comes once. Unless He has something for which you are uniquely gifted for, then He will pursue you until you do follow His lead. Each of us has a unique gift or ability which He has given us and He can use that gift for His Kingdom no matter what it may be.

So, getting back to the reason for this article, why are we so busy that we can’t seem to find time for attending church services? We can make the time for almost every other project, or “necessary” distraction which comes along but praising and worshipping God is one of those needful appointments which we can’t or won’t make the time for. I have heard that it is too much trouble or that some of us don’t have the time for that.

What if God had said that He didn’t have time for you and your life or problems? How would your life work out then? Probably not too well considering that God is the provider of the air that you breathe and the life which you enjoy. He is the Giver of life to all of creation and to ignore Him or the reason for your hope in eternity is not the way to give Him the glory!

Busyness is great but He is the One Who made it possible for you to be busy in the first place, so don’t you think He should be praised and honored for that? Your life and your talents came from His grace and His influence in your life, even before you were born. So He deserves to be praised and honored and given thanks to for all of your blessings in this life. One day soon the world will see that He is the Person which the Bible says He is and many will mourn because they didn’t make Him a part of their life while there was time.

GodGaveusEverything

By the grace of God

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8‭-‬9 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.2.8-9.KJV