From Psalm 103:2-4: “Bless the Lord, O my soul,and do not forget all His benefits—who forgives all your iniquity,who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit,who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”
From Psalm 103:13-14: “As a father has compassion for his children,so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him. For He knows how we were made; He remembers that we are dust.”
If God is not at the center of your life, something else is.
From Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him,and He will make straight your paths.”
Tim Keller (1950-2023) was an American pastor and Christian theologian.
Young Lydia awakens on this December’s early morning of peace. Her imagination embraces new hope to be found in the season.
She understands that Christmas means much more than a decorated tree, wrapped presents, and fresh baked cookies. As her intuitive eyes peer outside of her bedroom window, the dawn sky offers a view of a brilliant star.
Inside her quiet thoughts, she whispers, “I need to see more.”
Throwing a long winter coat over her pajamas and remembering to wear her snow boots (just as her Mom always insists), Lydia ventures outside. Standing on the front porch, she feels surrounded by the tranquility of the winter scene.
The snow-covered yard appears perfectly groomed, and the nearby pine trees are all powdered in white. To her wandering eyes, the heavens’ star appears even closer. She feels a tug at her coat to step down from the porch.
Her steps quicken as she edges into the nearby woods. The cold air actually brings warmth to her heart. Suddenly, she stops with eager eyes looking forward.
Again Lydia’s imagination begins to wonder, “What will I find if I walk some more?”
An undistinguished pine tree, holding candles of light, invites her to enter a clearing. Right in front of her waits an unbelievable scene.
A tiny feed trough filled with hay stands alone.
From the shadow’s fringes come a man, a woman, and a newborn baby. The woman carefully places the baby in the feedbox, because there is no room for them at the inn.
Lydia’s pulse quickens as she realizes what is happening. A “real life” nativity landscape . . . or is it the story predicted through prophecy’s promises? Her young mind just isn’t sure.
She looks back up into the heavens and fixes her eyes upon the morning’s star. Suddenly she feels joy surrounding her heart. Indeed, she believes in the love found in her Savior.
Kneeling in the soft snow, Lydia offers a short prayer:
I will have reached the point of greatest strength once I have learned to wait for hope.
From Lamentations 3:25-26: “The Lord is good to those who wait for him,to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.”
George Matheson (1842-1906) was Scottish pastor, Christian author, and hymn writer. His faith in God matured after becoming blind as a young man.
In the total expanse of human life, there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, “That is Mine!”
From Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) was a Dutch pastor, journalist, statesman, and Christian theologian. He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1901-1905.
Resilience is not about achieving big, extraordinary things for God; it’s about living an ordinary life in a beautiful way, loving others as Christ has loved us.
From Ephesians 5:19-21: “As you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Brian Keepers is an American pastor who has served in the ministry for over 20 years.
A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.
From Titus 2:7: “In all things, offering yourself as a model of good works and in your teaching offering integrity.”
D. L. Moody (1837-1899), also known as Dwight Lyman Moody, was an American evangelist and Christian teacher. He is frequently credited with inspiring modern mass revivalism.
From Luke 1:46-47: “And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.'”
Courtesy of Pinterest.
Advent’s journey
Following Savior’s star
Walking toward Bethlehem
Nurturing hope from afar
Advent’s patience
Sowing fresh seeds of hope
Harvesting heavenly peace
Grasping eternity’s rope
Advent’s witness
Wrapping faith in God’s Word
Waiting for hope to be born
Seeing prophecy unblurred
Advent’s treasures
Rising without fanfare
Revealing Messiah’s hope
Answering every prayer
Advent’s cleansing
Leaving darkness for light
Replacing man’s sins with hope
Raising redemption forthright
Advent’s glory
Sharing from hope above
Bearing world’s ultimate joy
Believing in Father’s love
Courtesy of Pinterest.
From Luke 1:54-55: [Mary continues speaking] “‘He has come to the aid of His child Israel,in remembrance of His mercy, according to the promise He made to our ancestors,to Abraham and to his descendants forever.'”
God’s help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it.
From Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Max Lucado (born 1955) is an American pastor and Christian author.
Nothing happens in any particular unless God’s will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him.
From Matthew 7:11: “If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher. Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons. Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST. I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.
Big Sky Buckeye 