December 31: A MATTER OF PERCEPTION

As we enter a New Year tomorrow, one new reality that comes from the closing events of the old year is the lack of a common moral standard. There is no longer a unanimous view of right and wrong. We are now two generations removed from a people who had a general Bible knowledge and participated in ongoing Bible Study. The result we deal with now is there is no objective statement or principle. As long as the Bible was the standard, we had one guide that was uninfluenced by emotion, surprise, or personal prejudice.
Today, it is a matter of perception, how each individual sees the situation. Anything may be right or wrong. You are your final moral law, how you subjectively feel about it is what matters. If you feel like you want to do something, just go ahead and do it.
Have you noticed the increase in the number of murderers who are captured who are described as “showing no remorse”? That’s the result of living by perception.
If you quote John 14:6 (NIV) where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me” you will surely offend many who will gladly tell you that is just your perception, not to be held by all.
When each person does what is right in his own eyes, there is moral chaos resulting in societal chaos. If children are being raised without an objective standard of “right” their lives are rootless, they act out their lack of roots with extreme acts of violence and disruption. Lawlessness begets lawlessness.
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.” It’s happening everyday!
You can’t change society alone, you can’t even change your street. But you can make a difference in your house, with your family. Read the Bible daily together. It can be the objective guide for your family. Obey it whether you feel like it or not. Don’t trust the twisting winds of your perception. You will live to regret it if you do. Pray for help.

“God, You say about your Bible that it is a ‘lamp for my feet and a light for
my path.’ Give me the inner fortitude to walk in that illumination. Amen”

READER PLEASE NOTE: With this Blog, I complete the assignment I had from the Lord. Thank you for sharing with me the last 365 days! I trust that you have been at times inspired or informed or simply challenged to strengthen your walk with Jesus. These writings will remain at this site for your re-reading in 2008. If you want to E-mail me, I will be faithful to answer. IN HIS JOY! Pastor Charlie

December 30: A TEMPTATION WARNING

I was driving south on Interstate 95. Even though I was going 65, everyone was passing me. It was like a race track, people were weaving in and out, overtaking and passing. Suddenly, the traffic slowed down and everyone stayed in the proper lane. Why?
A state trooper was sighted up ahead! He had a powerful effect! Why did the people slow down? Fear getting caught? Fear paying a fine? Fear being seen by friends? Why is it, for many people, a slight reminder of law-breaking makes them stop? If people know right from wrong, why does it take an external stimulant to do right?
We have the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” You don’t have to surrender to every temptation.
Paul describes his own struggle in being a civil war site between good and evil. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 5:16) “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I can’t carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do, this I keep on doing.” (Romans 5:19)
Add to this the warning from Numbers 32:23, “You may be sure your sin will find you out” and hear the state trooper’s siren again.
There is a better way to a life of relaxed obedience. Jesus promised in John 16:13, “When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth.” When you receive Jesus, you receive his Holy Spirit who becomes your constant teacher to show you the right thing to do. Just listen! God loves us too much to leave us helpless in the face of temptation.

“We have all developed this stubborn streak, Loving Father, and we often
want to flirt with temptation and sin just to see what will happen. Forgive
us! Again! Amen”

December 29: POSSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Looking into the future today I can see the New Year struggling with his diaper while the old year is tottering toward the edge of the stage. I don’t think he expected to age so quickly, and neither do we. As we look today toward the yesterdays and the tomorrows, let us think about the possibilities.
The glory of being finite is the ability we have to grow and become better. In fact, the Bible says we should, “grow in grace”. I remember growing up on our farm and wishing the apples were ripe. I would pick an apple in July and it would taste terrible. But I could go back to the same tree in October and the apple would be sweet. That is a goal for us!
Of course, we do not automatically get better; we struggle against all that would keep us pulled down. The poet Robert Browning said, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s a Heaven for?” Keep your eyes fixed on Heaven.
I have the concept in my mind of Jesus on the horizon and He is beckoning me to come on; as I get closer, He moves further away with the challenging call, “I will make you to become what God created you to be.” Paul said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of my high calling in Christ”.
We need a wider concept of sin at this point. Sin is anything not pleasing to God, not just actions but attitudes, also. Sins of omission are as serious as sins of commission. Aim to grow daily. 1 Peter 2:2 says; “As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.” We must not be content with mediocrity because Jesus always raises the horizons of His followers.
We should begin to pray today for the “courage of imperfection”. Heard of it? A consciousness of our imperfections does not paralyze us. I can preach even if I am not Chrysostom, I can teach even if I am not Socrates, I can study even if I am not Einstein, I can be courageous even if I am not Nathan Hale, or I can witness to Jesus even if I am not Paul. Do you get the point? A poet named Babcock once wrote, “Be strong, we are not here to play.”
Opportunities will abound in 2008 for us to make an impact on our part of the world.

“Lord, stir our souls today, please. We make excuses for our spiritual
laziness when there all so many possibilities for each one of us. Amen”

December 28: APPROACHING THE NEW YEAR

As you begin to ponder a little about the New Year, let this summary of Isaiah 43:15-19 give you a challenge: “I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King. This is what the Lord says----‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’” God is the god of the “new”! God is not tied down to the “past”. But your past experiences are going to determine your approach to “new” things. If you experienced a “new thing” with God in 2007, then you have greater anticipation for 2008.
Let’s look at this challenge! God challenges you to look around to see if there is something new on your horizon. Are you ready for it? Do you want something new because you don’t have to keep on repeating the vices or bad habits of the past?
How about a new “self”? As early as 1 Samuel 10:6 in the Old Testament we hear God challenging Saul, “the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power and you will be changed into a different person.” The offer of newness of personality is real. That comes about because of the new creation that Paul describes as waiting for people when they receive Jesus into their hearts. The passage is 2 Corinthians 5:17. Feel the inspiration of this from Galatians 6:15: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.”
If you want to be new in the New Year now is the time to explore with Jesus His offer of the “new birth” from John 3:3,7. Christ will take over the control of your life, if you will let Him, and you will be “open under new management”. Does this scare you or inspire you? Don’t be afraid, just trust Him.
He can put a new song in your heart, better than anything that the electronic world will play for you. David, who really loved music, said in Psalm 40:3, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” Finally you can make some pleasing sounds that will bless those around you. Your life may have been out of tune for so long that you irritated people in spite of your best efforts. Now an appealing sound from the “new you”, wow!
Top the newness off with living under the “new command” from Jesus, “A new command I give you: Love one another.” (John 13:34)

“Dear God, it is so exciting to approach the New Year following You because
we know the trip will be filled with blessings from Your love. Amen”

December 27: BLESSED FULFILLMENT

Obviously, Christmas Day did not live up to it’s promise of fulfillment for a lot of people. The day after Christmas has now become like “Black Friday”, the most popular day for Christmas Shopping. Now the day after Christmas has the doors of the Malls opening at 6 a.m. to offer folks another shot at meaning and the fulfilling of hope. Thus is life when you expect anything but dissatisfaction from man-made gods.
Can you imagine worshipping a tree? Or a stone? Or a cow? Or Mars, the god of war? Or Diana, the goddess of sex? Or Mercury, the god of commerce? Or the Unmoved Mover? All of these man-made gods leave humans empty hearted and even with an empty bank account.
I am not being cynical. I am expressing genuine concern for people who invested so much in making Christmas this year “just right” and it turns out with no lasting blessing. Even a passing glance at the Bible will say that the Biblical message is focused on spiritual fulfillment. When the Prophet Isaiah spoke about 800 years before the birth of Christ he knew that he would not see the fulfillment of his words. Many people ignored the Prophets. They were strange people who dreamed dreams and saw visions and they often acted out there message in a dramatic fashion. You just had to wait and see if History would verify their words. Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, and 60:1-2 gave names and places and situations too exact to be ignored. Micah 5:2 even named the place of the Messiah’s birth, right on target.
For a hopeless generation we have the birth of hope, something that you can’t find in the Mall regardless of how many Gift Cards you are carrying. After Adam and Eve and their generation messed up so badly and then Noah’s generation did it again, the possibility of a personal relationship with God seemed forever lost to humanity. They had religion but it was religion by rote, dull and deadening repetition. But when Mary received the instruction to name the baby Jesus because he “would save people from sin”, (Matthew 2:21) people said, “why not?” and reached out to God in faith. And it happened! Whatever your circumstances or situation, it is never too late.
“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight!” That’s the phrase from the Carol. Release and relief! No wonder the angels were singing. What about you? How is your voice developing?

“Fulfillment is such a beautiful word, Dear God, promised to us in
so many places and by differing voices but You deliver. Amen”

December 26: BREAKING THE BARRIERS

That crashing sound that you have been hearing since Christmas morning reminded me of how the birth of Jesus the Christ was breaking down all the barriers that keep people from God. Long before the veil of the Temple was split down the middle when Jesus died on the cross and the way was open into the Holy Presence of God for anyone, Jesus had opened the way to God.
Remember how Paul talks about Jesus as the “destroyer of barriers” in Ephesians 2:14? Just look around you on this day after Christmas and count the broken barriers. Over there is the BARRIER OF NATURAL LAW. Natural law said a virgin could not have a baby and that God could not possibly become a man. Natural law thought it could limit our access to God and God’s access to us. Like Jesus said, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” (John 14)
Next to it is the BARRIER OF IGNORANCE. Ignorant people referred to God as “the Unmoved Mover” or “the Source”, some of them were philosophers. Some were even the founders of religion that seemed more interested in hiding God and obscuring Him.
See there the BARRIER OF KNOWLEDGE. Smart people have said that you can “know about” God but that you can’t “know” God. You can know God’s “commands” but not Him! But John 1:14 says, “the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us.” Knowledge doesn’t like 1 John 1:1 where the testimony is “what our eyes have seen, our ears have heard and our hands have handled we declare to you.”
Notice next to it the BARRIER OF EXCLUSIVISM. Religions today like to be exclusive, like a private club. You know how it goes: only Jews will be saved or only Muslims will be saved or only Buddhists will be saved but John 3:16 says that , “God loved the world so much.” Jesus said, “whosoever will come to me, let him.” Little children, women, bad people. sick people, foreigners; none are excluded by Jesus.
Then there is the BARRIER OF UNBELIEF. That’s the problem today. Millions are celebrating the birth of Jesus this week as a “holiday” and not a “holy day”. They want to enjoy the fringe benefits of the Christian faith but refuse to make a commitment to follow Jesus. But many are discovering Jesus this week. Like Isaiah 65:1 says, “I will be found by those looking for me.”
All barriers that keep people from God must crumble in the presence of Jesus1

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being a barrier breakers and all can get to
know You personally because You came to this world. Amen”

December 25: A CHRISTMAS PERSPECTIVE

What you see at Christmas certainly depends on your perspective, just as at the first one.
From the perspective of the cow, it meant the loss of her manger where dinner was usually served. From the perspective of the sheep it meant there was something smaller and softer than itself in the stable. From the perspective of the shepherds this was certainly the most exciting night of their lifetime.
From the perspective of Satan it meant that his arch enemy had now claimed the territory over which he had exercised such control and caused so much grief. From the perspective of the Wise Men there was finally some relief from the passion that had driven them across the desert searching for the child.
From the perspective of the angels, the secret plan of the Father, known clearly in Heaven, had now been unfurled before the whole world. From the perspective of God it was His day to reveal His greatest act of love to a world that had such a hard time knowing Him. From the perspective of Jesus it was the time to leave the glory of Heaven and take on humanity and live among humans that they might know their Creator as their Savior, also.
What is your perspective on Christmas? For the lost, separated from God, it could be “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting men’s sins against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
For those saved, it could be, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (John 2:2)
For those deferring committing themselves, hear the words, “Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. The Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2) “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14) Whatever your perspective, history still reckons itself from the birth of Jesus.
Where are you? Still living in B.C. time or in A.D. time?

“Lord, sometimes we are guilty of looking at ourselves through rose-
colored glasses. Give us a clear perspective of Jesus and ourselves today.
Amen”

December 24: WHOSE BIRTHDAY?

Maybe its too late to ask the question, maybe not for some readers. You have been overwhelmed with ads and urgings for several weeks but just let me ask you one more time: Whose birthday is it anyway? Is it the birthday of capitalism? Is it the birthday of “special sales” or “big discounts”? Advertising certainly hasn’t mentioned anything about the One to be honored.
I want to see a big ad that says: “This Holiday Season is brought to you by Jesus”. Amazing how we plagiarize someone else’s idea and don’t even give him credit. God loves us. God is love. God gave His son Jesus to the world. Christmas is His work!
Excuse me, but don’t you think we should give credit where credit is due? Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Christ! (Visit Japan if you want to see this.) If we simply remember this truth daily, what a grand month and day it would be. Weeks of correct anticipation can make the birthday party on December 25 even greater.
You could yet memorize John 1:14 (NIV), “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Add to this Luke 2:6-7 (NIV), “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and place him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
What present will you give to Jesus at His birthday party? Don’t spend all of your money today until you decide. Call your Pastor and ask him for a suggestion.
David said, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” (Psalm 51:16-17)
A broken spirit will remember that it is Jesus’ birthday!

“Granted, Father, it is going to take some doing for us to do the right thing
and give your Son a meaningful gift tomorrow. Inspired, we can do it! Amen”

December 24: WHOSE BIRTHDAY?

December 1


Let’s focus some time on praise! Since prayer’s fruitfulness waits on praise, we need to concentrate on praise. When our “petitions only” praying fails, we must turn to praise. Psalm 148 echoes praise as much as any Psalm and is very instructive for us. Read it closely.
Let’s claim the proper place for praise in our lives. Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” It is as if a spring of praise is always bubbling up in our souls. If you just read Psalm 148:7-10 you note that all things of creation are called on to give praise to the Lord. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Psalm 1103:1) We get so wrapped up in our problems or difficulties that we forget to praise. Make 1 resolution now: “Nothing shall ever again deter me from praising My Lord.” If you are having a hard time concentrating in a time of praise, use your Bible and your Hymnal to prime your pump. There is no reason to ever run out of reasons to offer praises to God. This gets us involved in real worship that goes to the heart and does not remain at the skin level.
Think about the purpose of praise in the Bible. Praise can be a filter to purify our praying. Don’t you know that we cheapen the gift of prayer when we use it as a “shopping list”? The next time you are in Church and people start making prayer requests, listen closely and be dismayed. Most of the prayer requests will focus selfishly on the needs of folks in the immediate community. Our praying is our time to put our arms around a hurting world. Praising God first can lift our prayers to a higher plane.
Praise can purge our prayers of unworthy elements: selfishness, bargaining with God, trying to manipulate God, talking more about ourselves than God. Prayer must focus on God first. Romans 1:25 warns us about worshipping the creation more than the Creator. God is greater than all His gifts. Just think: If I never asked God for anything the rest of my life and still had Him as my God, I would still be rich. My cup would still run over! My joy would still be unspeakable!
Mount Calvary alone could make each of us rich beyond human measurement! Let’s just praise the Lord!

“Set us free, O God, to pray and praise You without ceasing. Release us
from our attachment to this world. Set loose our tongues to praise. Amen












December 2



Let’s go a little further with these thoughts of prayer and praise. There is power in praise. Praise takes sides with God, or lines us up with God, regardless of our circumstances. Instead of grumbling, complaining, or finding fault, we know that “God works in all things for good to those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28) Isaiah 43:2-3 express it well: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
We are now digging down into your trust in the Lord. Compare the testimony of Job to yourself from Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In the face of mental abuse and torment from his wife and his friends, his praise lifted him through. We must be liberated from self-centeredness and self-seeking and learn to love God for Himself alone.
Praise is powerful to turn defeat into victory! I like the story of Paul and Silas being locked away in jail because of their preaching. At midnight they begin to sing and praise the Lord. God’s answer? A earthquake! The results? Open jail doors, revival in the jail and city, and Europe is entered with the Gospel. Paul and Silas are more than conquerors because they praised God when in deep danger.
Understand that the highest expression of our faith is not how much we ask from God but how much we praise. Keep on praising! One more reminder, this one from Habbakuk 3:17-18, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

“I praise You, Lord! I praise You, Lord! You are wonderful and loving
and always forgiving. I praise You! Amen”















December 3



If you read the front page of the November 5 edition of The Free Lance Star (our daily newspaper) you could not miss the report of the persecution of Christians in Iraq. The article was an interview with two local members of the Religious Freedom Coalition who had just returned from a fact-finding trip to the Middle East. They affirmed what many of us know about the daily murdering of Christians and the burning of churches around the world.
The problem is this: The last thing that Jesus said to His followers as He was leaving the earth was “preach the Good News to every person.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Christians feel they must obey. They can’t keep quiet about Jesus. And that’s what gets them hurt and killed. I agree with them and I want to tell people about Jesus, too.
There are four groups of people I pray for daily because they are on the front lines in the battle against spiritual ignorance about Jesus.
First of all, I pray for the persecuted church. The Bible commands me in Hebrews 13:3, “Remember those in prison for the Gospel as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering.”
Secondly, I pray for the missionaries who are spread out around the world. They have realized that the comforts of home are secondary and that the opportunity to tell people who have never heard about Jesus the Christ is the primary call of life.
Thirdly, I pray for the Metropolitan Community Church congregations as they extend the Gospel to everyone, especially to gays and lesbians, a large group of people who are not welcomed in most churches.
Lastly, I pray for the military chaplains, especially those in Iraq and Afghanistan. They carry no weapons when they go into combat with the troops. They offer the “good news” to those living in “bad news”.
I would like to invite you to join me daily in this part of my prayer life. “Call on me and I will answer you”, God says in Jeremiah 33:3. Your intercession can make a difference.

“Obviously, Father, we have a long way to go before every person has
heard about the Good News. Strengthen us not to quit! Amen”













December 4



I wonder if the people that are spending so much time debating the location of the Ten Commandments give as much time to obeying them. These are given to us to be our guidelines as Christians. Don’t expect non-Christians to obey the Ten Commandments; don’t even expect them to read them as “ten suggestions”. These are signs that God has given to believers who want to walk the center of the road leading to righteousness. The commandments don’t belong at the Schoolhouse or the Courthouse, they belong in the home and in the Church house where they can be taught openly and freely and receive the respect that they deserve. It seems a hard struggle even for people in the Church to obey the Commandments; why would we ever be so naïve as to expect non-believers in the Bible to be able to follow them.
We Christians need to be grateful that God has given them to us as our guideposts. Exodus 20:1 sets the stage for our understanding these commands, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery”. The expectation of obedience on our part is the expectation of a Father-Child relationship. A parent naturally wants to teach his child as simply as possible for his benefit. A child naturally wants to please the parent by obeying the commands of the parent. Without the parent-child relationship there is no expectation of following by the child. Also, unless there is a love relationship, the child will harden his heart against doing something that stirs feelings of rebellion.
Based on God being our Creator, He gives the first command: “You shall have no other gods before me.” First loyalty belongs to God. Someone has defined your “god” as where your mind drifts when you have nothing else to think about. What is the first thought of your life? That is your “god”. God says, “I want your total allegiance”. Is that too much? God gives us life and health and the possibility of having a personal relationship with Him; is it too much for him to expect our loving devotion first of all in our lives? Jesus explained the First Commandment in this way: “No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

“Loving and Just God: we need these Ten Commandments and all the
other commands that You have given us in the Bible. Help us obey! Amen”












December 5


Here is the 2nd commandment directly from Exodus 20:4-6, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments”. Wow! That’s detailed instruction!
To read this slowly is to understand the absolute abhorrence that God has for putting anything in His place in our lives. To think about it rationally, how could this advanced age of technology still produce a generation of people that would chose to worship a “created thing” rather than the Creator of the universe? And you don’t have to look far to see the Idol Worship of America? We jokingly refer to the “McMansions” that are being built on many small plots of ground. Then people move in and fill the monstrosities with things that they will never use, only to spend their time admiring their idols. Cars, boats, vacation condos, jewelry, etc; I’m just wasting my time mentioning these idols.
Statues and Idols are for installation in Parks and Museums, certainly not on the sacred ground of the human heart. If Christ is living in your heart there is no room for man-made idols. He has revealed himself to us as Spirit and Light. He needs every inch of space in our lives to unfold His glory. The love-hate barrier is crossed so quickly, we may not even notice. Interesting, isn’t it, that God considers our putting anything in His place as a sign of our hatred of his Majesty?
I must bring up here what Jesus replied when he was asked to name the most important commandment. He replied in Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” No room for stuff that can separate you from God’s presence in your life. Love the Lord with all your soul, that is, with all of your spiritual faculties. Love the Lord with all your mind, that is, with all your mental faculties. Love the Lord with all your heart, that is, with all of your emotional feelings. Love the Lord with all your strength, that is, with all your physical prowess.
Do not minimize, even for one moment, the danger of allowing a human idol of any kind to take God’s central spot in your life.

“O God, You are so high and lifted up! And Holy! We apologize for each
time we have allowed idols a spot in the temple of our hearts. Amen”










December 6


A surface view of religion has people often boasting about how they have obeyed all of the commandments. The fact is that Jesus is the only one who has ever obeyed the letter and the spirit of these Laws. If it had been possible for any one of us to keep the Commandments, Jesus could have stayed in Heaven. But He came to show us what life could be like when lived in his strength. And so we come to the next commandment as written in Exodus 20:7, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
A surface reading of this command has allowed many people to limit the application to the use of profanity only. Profanity is wrong. There are Bible verses that speak against it, but this is not one of them. No, this command is all about hypocrisy. Using God’s Name in defining who you are and then not living up to it is the sin being described here. Coming out of Egypt, the new name for the Jews would be “the people of God”. They claimed it for themselves, they boasted in it, they flaunted it before other nationalities but they did not live up to being “the people of God.” Paying “lip service” only to a spiritual commitment and not living up to the reality is a worse sin than profanity.
Those who profess to believe and yet do nothing to prove their words become stumbling-blocks to many other people. The old saying “what you are is speaking so loudly that I can’t hear a word you are saying” certainly applies here. It is OK to “talk the talk” if you are going to “walk the walk”. Every Pastor has had to try to explain the actions of one of his parishioners who has brought shame upon the Christian faith by not living a holy lifestyle.
This is one commandment that finds it’s full completion in a Christian who is being empowered by the Holy Spirit. When the Bible says that the followers of Jesus were called “Christians” first in the city of Antioch it was because the people of that city saw the teachings of Jesus being fleshed-out in the lives of their fellow citizens who had now become followers of Jesus. They acted like real imitations of Jesus. They walked like Jesus, talked like Jesus, loved like Jesus, and died like Jesus. They intentionally copied the Jesus life-style, people saw the real thing. They were “little Christs”.
This generation is waiting for Christians to take the teachings of Jesus seriously. People are watching to see if you are going to be the real-thing when it comes to faith.

“Father, help us to live up to our new name when we become Christians
and be arrows pointing people to You. Amen”










December 7


Here is commandment #4: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work. The Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy”. (Exodus 20:8-11) From the standpoint of sheer practicality, this command was one of the most practical ones that he could obey and be blessed. God is the Creator! He knows what He has created. He knows the strengths and weaknesses. He knows that this creation will be the best he can be when he has adequate rest. A lack of rest will harm the human body. But, man, in his stubbornness thinks that he can do well without rest. How many diseases are we dealing with today because man refuses to observe a time of rest?
The Sabbath Day, or day of rest, was to have great symbolic meaning. It was to remind man of his frailty and his need to depend on God. Just like the teaching in Leviticus that the “tithe” is “holy” to the Lord. Holy means “to be set aside for special use”. The tithe or the first one-tenth of the income was to point man to the fact that all of his strength to gain wealth came from God. Every time he would give one-tenth to God, it would be an act of grateful worship. Every time he stopped what he was doing to have a special day of worship, he would remind himself of his debt of gratitude to God.
Man is made to have a time of rest for physical and spiritual refreshment. Some of you readers remember the days of the “Blue Laws” when stores were closed on Sunday and people went to worship and spend time together. Today, business pressures are such that few Christian business owners are spiritually brave enough to close up shop on Sunday. I know of two local chains that do and they are doing very well financially. They are a good witness to the importance of this commandment.
Keep in mind the last part of this command in v.11 “the Lord made it holy”, not for His own benefit, but for yours. You will be happier and your family will be happier the Sunday you begin to use the time for Worship. It is hard for many people to imagine a day set aside for God. Every Friday the radio trumpets “TGIF” (Thank God Its Friday) and urges the listener to get physically worn out in frantic activity. I suggest that you listen to your Maker.

“Thank You, Loving Creator, for building into us the need for a special
day for rest and recuperation and worship. Amen”












December 8



As we come to commandment five we turn to a different emphasis: Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you”. The first 4 commands concern your walk with God and keeping an open fellowship with God. The last 6 commands concern your walk with man and keeping an open fellowship with man.
This command strikes at the most basic of earthly relationships, a relationship that would seem to be easy to maintain and be fruitful. Always value the source of your very life. Respect them because they brought you into the world; you owe your very existence to them. They should be loved and supported and obeyed. Unless it is an abnormal situation, these are the folks who care the most about your well-being. They make the rules for us that show us the limits of discipline in our growing up and maturing. Children often scream in frustration, “you don’t want me to have any fun” when just the opposite is true. Parents know that without discipline there is no true happiness in life.
I am not unaware of the great amount of child abuse in our generation. I cannot understand how parents could treat cruelly the children that God has entrusted to them. The sickest form of cruelty is sexual abuse and many are being scarred for life. Any person being tempted to “use and abuse” their own flesh and blood should immediately go to a Psychiatrist for help.
An orderly society has an expectation that the children will care for the parents as they age and become dependent. This can be the climax of a whole lifetime of developing closeness. It is a beautiful picture, indeed, to see parents and children and grand-children in a on-going caring for one another and helping one another. Each generation has it’s own contribution to each other.
A challenge to parents: Be sure that you are living a life that is worthy of honor. Some parents live such selfish, ungodly lives that the children have nothing to honor. Do not become a stumbling-block to your children by living dishonorably.
Children: pray for your parents daily. They need God’s help to fulfill their responsibility to you. They need encouragement not to give up their parenting responsibility, even into old age.

“Father God, you have all the characteristics of a perfect mother and a
perfect father. Help me to learn these traits by copying You. Amen”










DECEMBER 9


A God of Life created the first family and they made one of the first hateful acts that has followed man from the Paradise of Eden. So, God has to include Exodus 20:13 as the 6th Commandment; “you shall not murder.” There was jealousy between the brothers and Cain killed Abel. Why can’t man learn to settle his differences peacefully? But it is more than that. For every act of murder there is a reflection back to the very First command. “You shall have no other gods before me.” Submission to God could be the basis of resolution to all misunderstandings. But egotistical man takes things in his own hand. As I write this the news is filled with the story of the young man in Omaha, Nebraska who has murdered a group of folks in a Mall.
Life is in God’s hands, He is the originator of life and only He should decide when that life ends. We can’t give life, so we should not take it. We cannot excuse the death penalty. Just because it is approved by the State does not make murder acceptable. Murder during a war is still murder. Abortion is murder. Euthanasia is murder. Starving people is murder. Allowing the homeless to freeze to death on the street is murder. We should be pro life in our attitude to our fellow human beings from the day they are born until the day that they die. Jesus said “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” As long as a person is alive we must do all we can to preserve their lives.
Life is sacred! Jesus came into the world and gave his life for the salvation of every man, woman, and child. As long as there is life, there is the possibility that a person can receive Jesus and be saved. I am thankful for the Christian Chaplains that work at the prisons and on the battlefield to offer the hope of eternal life to the dying.
Whatever side of the political walk you are on I think that you know that God has no favorites, God doesn’t care who wins the war, God only cares that both sides be saved through Jesus Christ. God wants the wars to end so men and women can hear the Gospel of Peace.
If you still have influence over your children or grandchildren, I hope you use every opportunity to teach them this Commandment.

“God, we have this terrible gimmick of depersonalizing your creations and then
killing them. Show us that giving them numbers or ugly names changes nothing.
Amen”











December 10


As we come to the 7th commandment, we also come to a commandment that is forbidden in several states and counties. Not only that, ten years ago there was a Military Court that debated if adultery was a crime. Some military personnel were discharged after being found guilty of adultery; the reasoning being, if a man would not be true to his wife, he would not be true to his troops. Exodus 20:14 says, “You shall not commit adultery”. This is a practical command that tells us to say “no” to our urges. This is a premeditated sin, it takes thought and concentration to disobey this law.
The sanctity of the family unit cannot be underestimated. The Church and the home together form the last barrier against forces that would destroy humanity. We are expected to have a certain reverence for the marriage relationship.
Jesus spoke specifically to the temptation to adultery in Matthew 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”. Jesus helps us with the problem by making it clear that the physical act is the ultimate expression of a rebellion in the heart. Any kind of experience of a specific sexual nature outside the marriage covenant is adultery.
Do not confuse this with fornication. Fornication is pre-marital sex, having a sexual relation with someone while you are still single. You can find several references to fornication in your Bible.
Adultery is a sin running wild in this generation. Late night TV shows mock it, Prime time situation comedies belittle it, even cartoon characters get in on the fun. It is small wonder that youth have little respect for the Marriage Covenant since they have been brainwashed against marriage faithfulness as they grew up being baby-sat by the TV. Parents bear a heavy responsibility to teach their children by example and word the high value of marriage faithfulness.
Marriage was and is God’s idea. He planned it. The Bible presents marriage as a triangle; God, the man, and the woman. God makes a covenant with both in marriage. When the covenant is broken, it is not only a sin but the fruit of it is harvested for years.

“God help us to honor our marriage commitments. Give us the concentration
to focus on your command daily and rise above this temptation.”











December 11



As a little boy this was the most important command. I memorized all of the Commandments but I did not grasp or apply them like I did the 8th command. Exodus 20:15, “you shall not steal.” I guess it was because every Saturday when our family went grocery shopping I would see men stop at the grape counter and steal a grape or two. I was tempted also, but I worked hard at not yielding.
The temptation to take something that does not belong to you never goes away and many things seem especially appealing. If we hear someone else being praised constantly we want to say something that will take away some of the glow. If we see someone getting promotions or pay increases we want to say something about the unfairness of it all. The “yes, but” rebuttal is one of the best tools of thievery; “he is a nice person, but”. There, we haven’t really said anything bad but we sowed the doubt as to the quality of the other person. Some of us who would never steal a grape or anything material yet don’t mind stealing from another person’s good name. Or maybe we are tempted to steal the praise that rightfully belongs to someone else; that is, we get praised at Church for doing good work that really has been done by someone else.
God says,“don’t steal.” The Bible says that every perfect gift we receive in this life comes to us from a Loving God. That being true, all of the possessions that people have are like “Christmas gifts” from God for their exclusive use and we steal from God as well as the person. We deprive people of the fruit of their labor if we steal from them.
One of the most shocking parts of the Bible is found in Malachi 3:8ff, “will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ In tithes and offerings.”
Here is a picture of someone like me or you with a revolver in our hands robbing from God and stealing money that should be used for the Kingdom of God. (The most common theft is when we report on our Income tax that we gave God more money than the Church records prove.) As the Jews in Malachi’s time, we protest that we would never rob God.
We rob God of the use of our time, our talents, our minds, our spiritual gifts that were to equip us to do special things for God; the list gets very long. God wants to use our children in some special ministry and we talk them out of it so they can stay close to us and provide for us in our old age.
It’s not too late to confess this sin of thievery and resolve never to steal again.

“Help us to have thankful hearts for all that you give us so that our
gratitude can save us from being thieves. Amen”










December 12


“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16) The 9th Commandment is vital to any community life. The positive statement of this command is “always tell the truth.” The ‘little white lie” is just as deadly as the “big, black lie”. It should be a natural for us Christians to be totally committed to the truth. Yet, churches are plagued by gossipers who start their conversations with “have you heard?” Across the years I have stopped these conversations before they started by saying, “wait just a minute, I want this person here to hear what you are about to tell.” Second-hand retelling of stories almost always has an admixture of personal opinions and not known facts.
So many lives have been ruined by lying. Reputations have been tarnished never to recover from a repeated half-truth. We are called to build-up one another and repeating a unverified story does not have that guarantee.
Often lies divides families and close friends. It may not be a believable story but doubt is sown in the heart of the hearer and trust is hard to reestablish again. Just as Satan divided Adam and Eve against one another by lying, so he continues to be the great divider. Only the truth can heal.
The greatest evil that lying reveals is the lack of love. When Jesus told us to “love one another” He had in mind surely that we would not lie about another person. 1 Corinthians 13:6 says, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” Here is insurance for preserving the marriage and family. Here is cement to strengthen the fellowship of the church. Here is the steel that gives backbone to every assertion of a local congregation that she is a New Testament Church. As Ephesians 4:15 challenges us, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

“O Lord, make us to be lovers of the truth and obedient to the New Testament
instruction to always speak the truth in love. Amen”


















December 13


Now we come to the last Commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17) This temptation is the kind that really sneaks up on you and catches you and you are surprised that you have been caught “coveting”. Basically, it is the battle between greed and thanksgiving. Clearly we must establish that our satisfaction is in our relationship with God and not in any material thing or person. Taking preventive measures would help us not to yield to this temptation. There are a lot of helpful verses for our defense:
Luke 12:15 Has JESUS SAYING, “ Take heed and beware of covetousness; a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of things he possesses.” Mark 8:36 asks, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” “Put to death covetousness, it is idolatry”. (Colossians 3:5) If we get our minds fixated on a person or things, they literally become a god to us and we begin to worship them with our desires for them. This is a dangerous route: the desire for money leads to theft, the desire for prestige leads to evil ambition, the desire for power leads to tyranny, the desire for a person leads to sexual sin, and the desire for freedom leads to dissatisfaction.
Coveting is the opposite of the “desire to give” on which the home and family are built. Homes that have been destroyed by coveting can be reclaimed if Christ is allowed to be the Head of the House and direct the feelings and actions of all family members. Paul’s personal testimony is a good guide: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) He describes it as a learning experience. Coveting is a natural part of the non-Christian life because you are living for self. Being born again changes the life drive. But the “old you” remembers what it was like to covet and get results and Satan is sure to remind you. So, as you grow in Christ, you learn that contentment is more satisfying than coveting.
Coveting can cause you to lose all of the meaningful relationships in your life. People will discover what your motivation in life is and they will fear what you might become. Confess this sin every time that you discover that you are guilty and do it immediately.

“Teach us, Lord! Lead us to a depth of understanding that if we have a
relationship with You that all other needs we have will be met. Amen”












December 14


Well, it started right after Halloween this year, that is, the playing of happy, holiday music. A spirit of happiness, real or manufactured, fills the air. Joyfulness and merriment are everywhere you look.
But, all is not well in Mudville. Several helping agencies have raised a cry for assistance. There is not much food in the food banks for the needy. The toy pick-ups for needy children are not fulfilling expectation. Houses being foreclosed and the mortgage crisis is creating an unexpected development for many families, something they have never experienced before. Try explaining to your kids that there won’t be many Christmas gifts this year. Several helping agencies have announced the forming of new support groups for people this Christmas. Many support groups will be available if you are suffering from seasonal depression or the “blues” this year.
So we have a divided community. Some people are laughing and some are crying. Merry Christmas! That depends on who you are talking to at the given moment. This becomes a particularly difficult problem if you are the only person in the house feeling sad when everyone else feels glad.
Can you help it? No, not if its clinical depression or rooted in a physical problem. (That makes Depression Screening important.) Both the depressed and the non-depressed need to be sensitive to one another.
A key truth for everyone, feeling up or down, is what the angel said in announcing the birth of Jesus. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV) If Christmas is going to be a bummer, it will be hard to get excited about the New Year.
Let’s try not to send out mixed signals How about if all the people who are feeling great were sensitively aware of those feeling “down” and tried to show some personal concern about their emotions? How about if all the people who feel “down” just told people straight out how they feel so their companion would know they didn’t cause the depression? “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

“Father, it is so easy for us to become self-centered during a holiday time
and forget about others and forget about You. Stop us, please! Amen”












December 15


One of the great memories that Fay and I treasure goes back to 1961. It was the first time we took our children to visit the Christmas display at Thalhimer’s Department Store in Richmond, Virginia. It was so beautiful and un-real, breathtaking. Adults and kids alike were spell-bound by the beauty. It was truly a fantasy land! We visited that place every year until we moved. As I think of it now, I think of the fantasy of Christmas that we experience during these days. We are still enchanted by Christmas in America, but we are not changed by it.
There certainly is an enchantment with the life of Christ. We view the account of the birth of Christ as a wonderful Fairy Tale! The Manger is not the point; the point is the Incarnation of God coming into the world. When the story of Christ is told it reminds some Americans of a success story like the poor Abraham Lincoln making it all the way to the White House. We are astonished at the early years of Christ, wonder at His silent years, glory in His active years, shudder at His death, and thrill at His resurrection. We are amazed at Jesus the Miracle worker: turning water into wine, calming the sea, feeding 5,000 people, and walking on water. We are amazed that He could do so much, of course we believe in Him!
In the same way we Americans are enchanted by Christianity. Starting with twelve men and now covering the whole world. The Church grows in spite of opposition or because of it. We say “the blood of the martyrs is the strength of the church”. We point with pride to the fact that every little community has at least one church. The church is voluntary in America, no one is forced to be a Christian. Indeed, how Jesus has changed this country and the whole world is heart-grabbing.
But if we are unchanged in heart, what good will this fascination with the baby Jesus do to us? Just taking a passing glance at the birth of Christianity is condemnation of our cult of bigness, success, outward appearance, materialism and plenty. He was born in a stable, laid in a manger, died on a cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. Enchanting? I agree! But has your life been changed by Jesus?

“As we entertain our guests these next few weeks, Loving God, help us
to present to them The Prince of Peace and not just pretty gifts. Amen”












December 16


As we are only 9 days now from celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus, I want to remind us of some basic truths. Questions for your consideration first: What hopes and expectations did Jesus meet? What longing did He fulfill? What questions did He answer? What unexpressed feelings did He revive? The Apostle Paul explains, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons”. (Galatians 4:4-5a)
Five prophecies we need to review: He will be born in Bethlehem according to Micah 5:2. “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small, out of you will come one to rule Israel”. God uses the little and insignificant to carry out His plan! God’s ways are not our ways, outward appearance means nothing.
Secondly, God said Jesus would be a Righteous Branch from David’s line. (Jeremiah 33:15-16) So many Kings and Priests had failed God in their appointed missions that the people longed for a King to rule in righteousness.
Thirdly, Isaiah 7:14 says, “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son.” Better is a Divine Conception than a Virgin Birth. God is in control! This is God’s plan to get where we are! Call the Virgin’s offspring “Immanuel”, which means, “God is with us!”
Fourthly, our King Jesus will be a perfect King. We can go to Him whenever we wish because He is a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Then, in Matthew 1:21 the prophecy says that the Virgin will give birth to a son “and you are to give him the name ‘Jesus’ because he will save his people from their sins.” He will do something about my one problem that I am helpless to do anything about.
Imagine; for 800 years these prophecies were read daily in the home and Sabbath schools and the Temple, but nothing happened. NOW: they have all come true! What are you giving Jesus for Christmas?

“Father, it is good to see Jesus in light of your Eternal Plan for the
redemption of the world. Thank You for Your preparation. Amen”















DECEMBER 17



What’s in a name? A poet once asked that question and observed that “a rose by any other name would be just as sweet”. But, from my perspective today, there is much meaning in a name. My personal testimony for Christmas concerns three names for Jesus in the New Testament. When Matthew wrote his Gospel Jerusalem was in ashes, Rome’s grip was tighter than ever, the church had been kicked out of the Temple, and the Pharisees were trying to rebuild Judaism around the Law.
CHRISTMAS MEANS CHRIST THE KING IS HERE. “Hark the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn King”. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” The long-awaited King of Righteousness has arrived and all nations will be blessed through His reign.
CHRISTMAS MEANS EMMANUEL, GOD IS WITH US. This is the beginning of the new reality. He is not off somewhere in space, hiding from us or teasing us in our weakness. As the hymn writer said, “my Lord is near me all the time.” He is here to guide, inspire, enlighten, and pick us up when we are down. He is not an absentee God, He is here and He is not silent as Francis Schaeffer once said. We are saved from the loneliness and aloneness that haunts humanity.
CHRISTMAS MEANS THAT JESUS THE SAVIOR HAS COME. At His birth Jesus made a dramatic entry at a stable in Bethlehem. At His entry to Jerusalem on Passover, again he dramatically grabbed the headlines from a donkey’s back. Look at the Christmas carols we sing; they are all evangelistic songs to tell the good news. We are so familiar with the words that we do not pay attention to the radical message we repeat. A Savior has come! We tend to make them happy-happy songs. Even non-Christians who don’t have a clue as to the meaning sing them out with gusto.
The spiritual meaning of Christmas comes from the Names of Jesus in such passages as Matthew 1:18-25. Jesus, Our Savior, Our God, Our King is here! Rejoice with me today! I’d rather have Jesus for Christmas than anything.

“There is indeed something about your Name, Lord Jesus! Yes, we bow
to that Name today and will gladly bow on the day You return to earth. Amen”














December 18


Nearly 800 years before Christ was born a Prophet spoke “a virgin shall bring forth a child and you will call his name Immanuel”. (Isaiah 7:14) And on the night of Jesus’ birth the angels and the shepherds shouted it out in praise. It was daring, incredible, inconceivable that God would slip into the world in this way! Today “Immanuel’ slips easily from our tongues for centuries have dulled mankind’s sense of wonder. Join me in a sense of wonder today! God is with us!
God as a person is here! All the qualities of man are used to describe God; He is holy, righteous, and just. The God of Abraham, Moses, David! God, the Creator of all things. There was only one way for God to reveal himself to us and prove his love for us and that was by becoming one of us. Many pagan peoples worship God vaguely because they have never been told of Jesus the Christ yet. When I watch Reality shows on TV and some person screams out “O my God” I wonder who they are talking to and what they are talking about! The saying, “you can give without loving but you can’t love without giving’ certainly describes the God-man Jesus who came to us!
God as a presence is here! John 1:14 says, “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Known to us today because he is with us as a personal Savior. We no longer need to build an altar to “The Unknown God” because Jesus said “if you have seen me you have seen the Father”. If you will, Jesus is God’s visual aid to man. Hope is a reality now, prophecy is a fact now, faith is fruition now, desire is fulfilled now.
God as a Loving Savior is here. Salvation, in its fullest meaning of forgiveness, healing, comfort, moral strength cannot be given from afar. Sin is not forgiven by a word or stroke of a pen by one who knows nothing of its anguish. So Christ entered our world, faced sin and temptation at its worst, and carried us out of it. As Isaiah 53 gloriously says “He has borne our grief, carried our sorrows, and healed us with His stripes.”
“Merry Christmas” everyday! “Joy to the world” everyday! On March 2, 1791 the great Christian, John Wesley, died. One of his last statements was, “the best of all is, God is with us.”

“The reality of your presence is best of all and the very foundation of our
being children of hope. Hallelujah! Amen”














December 19

”
You know it hasn’t always been this way in America, don’t you? Did you know that Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas Day in 1890? Did you know that Oklahoma was the last state of the then 48 states to legalize Christmas Day in 1890? Have we made progress or not?
In the Colonial America that we see in Williamsburg during December all seems quietly beautiful and reverent. But did you know that in Puritan-controlled Massachusetts Bay Colony that Christmas was just another day for business as usual? In fact, in May, 1659 the General Court of Massachusetts enacted in a law calling for a fine of five shillings for those observing Christmas Day. The Puritan preachers could not imagine celebrating the birth of the Savior with eating and drinking and having parties. Other colonies were not as strict but all emphasized the celebrating of Christmas with worship.
Now, just suppose: suppose a law was passed in Congress saying that you could no longer celebrate Christmas the way you always have in America? What would you do? Could you survive or endure December 25 if there was no entertainment to receive or entertaining to do? All of your efforts and time consumption, how would you redirect it?
At the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:13), “A great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ “ This should probably serve as our guideline or plumb line. Is everything I am planning for celebrating Christmas shaping up according to these words?
Somewhere between the Puritan extreme of no celebration and the current celebrate-only extreme is a meaningful holiday experience. Find it and give Jesus a worthy worship.

“Dear Lord Jesus, in our hearts we want to do it right but the pressures
of our desire for material things makes it so hard and we are weak. Amen

















December 20


What will you give Jesus for Christmas this year? Thought about it? It’s his birthday. But, you say, he already owns everything and doesn’t need anything. This is where your creativity must come in.
You already have several people on your Christmas list that don’t need anything but you got creative and bought something for them anyway because it was the right thing to do.
Christmas gift giving begins with a recognition that Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. He should be first, not last, on our Christmas list.
Give to those He came to serve: the poor, the homeless, the prisoner, the hungry, the oppressed and the outcast. Is there a better way to honor him than to give ourselves to these?
Matthew 25:40 (NIV), “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” In the light of the scripture, Christian, you have just begun to give. Give some “time” to participate in a group working with society’s “devalued” persons: a Senior citizens group, prison visitation, help with an Ethnic family that doesn’t speak English well. Do you have a skill? Volunteer to cook, repair, provide transportation or just friendship for some of these disadvantaged persons.
Our best gifts to people may not cost us a dime, so we will still have money to share with missionaries in unevangelized countries. Unsaved, hurting people around the globe need the free salvation through Jesus; how wonderful if they could receive a Bible in their own language!
WARNING: You probably do not have enough time or money to do everything you have done before and add this on: this must replace some of what you have done and spent before.
What gifts will you bring?

“What shame we feel, Dear Lord, when we think of how we leave You
off our Christmas list until someone reminds us. We repent! Amen”















December 21



It occurred to me from advertisements I am seeing and conversations that I am overhearing that a lot of children are receiving mixed signals from the significant adults in their lives about the meaning of Christmas. This is sad. It is not surprising because the pattern was set the very first Christmas.
Matthew 2:7-8 (NIV) records, “The Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him’”. Of course, he didn’t want to worship, he wanted to kill him.
Pretense at worship is a deadly thing, especially for children. As sad as it is, at least children in families of Christ-rejecters don’t have to deal with hypocrisy.
Many people outwardly accept the birth of the Savior but inwardly reject Jesus and his lifestyle. (The Son of God, who didn’t own a place to lay his head at night would feel out of place in many sumptuous, suburban homes.) It confuses the children so much that some kids think the baby in the manger is like the Easter bunny or the Tooth Fairy.
When you drop your child off at the mall with a fistful of money to waste, “because its Christmas”, will you give the child an equal amount to give the Lord Jesus in worship? Parents need to partner with their children in a true worshipful time in December. After, all, they do know whose birthday it is, don’t they?
Resolve today that you haven’t given your child or grandchild anything for Christmas if you haven’t given them a fresh appreciation of the fact that “God loved the world so much that he gave his only son.” (John 3:16)
Don’t take a chance on leaving your child confused again. Focus on Jesus!

“Reveal to us, one more time, O Lord, the true meaning of Christmas. We
need to get back to the basics once more before Christmas Day. Amen”

















December 22



In the light of historical facts, it sounds contradictory that a key figure of western celebration of Christmas is Santa Claus or Old Saint Nick. The original Saint Nick was a man named Nicholas of Myra. He was a faithful Christian. The Emperor Diocletian burned him with hot irons and tortured him repeatedly for refusing to deny that Jesus was God. Following his death on December 6, 343 AD, he was known as Saint Nicholas, our so-called “Jolly Old Saint nick”.
His life was about sacrifice, about giving, about serving, about faithfulness to following Jesus as his Savior and Lord. His lifestyle was certainly contradictory to the way his name is used in frivolity. Sad to say, many historical facts have been lost in our shuffling the facts and figures of Christmas.
Jesus was the child of a homeless couple who found a retreat for his birthing in a common stable with animals watching. The glamorized presentations of churches during December, costing thousands of dollars, makes it hard to focus on the harsh reality of how the Son of man was mishandled and misunderstood in His birth or incarnation. Did you read about the church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida spending $1.3 million this month for their Christmas extravaganza?
In all of the beauty and pageantry, let us dig deeper for the true meaning of “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)
When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to poor, uneducated shepherds she said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10 NIV)
I think God kept it simple, stripped of glamour, so none would miss the point. Keep your Bible open. Read the naked facts daily. Stick with the facts.

“We thank You, O God, for being sure that we did not lose the historical
record of Nicholas of Myra. Help us to emulate his lifestyle this year. Amen”















December 23



You don’t have to be prepared to receive a “surprise”. When that fun thing happens we react with joy and gratitude and even experience additional pleasure in remembering it. I hope that you experience at least one “surprise” in the next week.
My greater concern today is for people who will receive a “disappointment” instead of a “surprise.” The gifts that can’t be afforded, the scarcity of food, the telephone call that won’t come, the greeting card not received, or a heartbreaking e-mail from the battlefield and the like. You know what I mean!
Is it possible to prepare for disappointment? Or to steel yourself against the possibility? What do you think about the Magi story in Matthew 1:1-12? They are much celebrated in the churches during this season. They are the ones who wear the prettiest robes in the Christmas drama! Do you think they may have experienced disappointment? After all, they were wise and wealthy men. They had been traveling for months in a camel caravan. They had official “letters of safe passage” and gifts to present to royalty, to a King.
They meet a crafty king who tries to manipulate them for his own purposes. They persevered and then discovered that the end of their search was a little boy born to peasant parents. No indication or trappings of royalty to be seen! Instead of making a formal presentation of their gifts in the presence of stately dignitaries, it was a circle of humble folks.
If they were disappointed, it did not deter them from their higher purpose: to fulfill their God-inspired worship. As people of faith, that is our challenge. Even if we have to brush away tears, let us keep our eyes on the “big picture” and see what God has planned for us.
Disappointment need not defeat us! Confront the disappointment with hope in Christ! (Romans 5:3-5) Or listen to Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything, tell God your needs, and always remember to be thankful.”

“Father God, through Your Son Jesus, You have promised to be with us
to the end of time and that is more dear than any “surprise” or
“disappointment.” Amen”













December 24


Maybe it’s too late to ask the question, maybe not for some. Some stores have had the hard sell on now for several days. Watch out today!
Whose birthday is it anyway? Is it the birthday of capitalism? Or of, “special sales and discounts”? Advertising has surely forgotten.
I want to see a big ad that says: “This Holiday Season is brought to you by Jesus.” Amazing how we plagiarize someone else’s idea and don’t even give him credit. God loves us. God is love. God gave His Son Jesus to the world. Excuse me, but don’t you think we should give credit where credit is due? Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Christ. If we simply remember this truth daily in December, what a grand month it would be! Weeks of anticipation can make the birthday party on December 25 even greater.
You could memorize John 1:14 (NIV), “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Add to this Luke 2:6-7 (NIV), “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first-born, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
What present will you give to Jesus at His birthday party? If you wait too late, you could very well spend all your money and have none left for Him. Decide now. Put Jesus at the top of your Christmas list. He deserves the best. It’s not too late! Call your Pastor for a suggestion if you really can’t think of something.
David said, “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” (Psalm 51:16-17) A broken spirit will remember that it is His birthday!

“Father, time has gotten away from us again and there are still things to
do; please help us prioritize these last few hours before the 25th. Amen”

December 23: PREPARING FOR DISAPPOINTMENT

You don’t have to be prepared to receive a “surprise”. When that fun thing happens we react with joy and gratitude and even experience additional pleasure in remembering it. I hope that you experience at least one “surprise” in the next week.
My greater concern today is for people who will receive a “disappointment” instead of a “surprise.” The gifts that can’t be afforded, the scarcity of food, the telephone call that won’t come, the greeting card not received, or a heartbreaking e-mail from the battlefield and the like. You know what I mean!
Is it possible to prepare for disappointment? Or to steel yourself against the possibility? What do you think about the Magi story in Matthew 1:1-12? They are much celebrated in the churches during this season. They are the ones who wear the prettiest robes in the Christmas drama! Do you think they may have experienced disappointment? After all, they were wise and wealthy men. They had been traveling for months in a camel caravan. They had official “letters of safe passage” and gifts to present to royalty, to a King.
They meet a crafty king who tries to manipulate them for his own purposes. They persevered and then discovered that the end of their search was a little boy born to peasant parents. No indication or trappings of royalty to be seen! Instead of making a formal presentation of their gifts in the presence of stately dignitaries, it was a circle of humble folks.
If they were disappointed, it did not deter them from their higher purpose: to fulfill their God-inspired worship. As people of faith, that is our challenge. Even if we have to brush away tears, let us keep our eyes on the “big picture” and see what God has planned for us.
Disappointment need not defeat us! Confront the disappointment with hope in Christ! (Romans 5:3-5) Or listen to Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything, tell God your needs, and always remember to be thankful.”

“Father God, through Your Son Jesus, You have promised to be with us
to the end of time and that is more dear than any “surprise” or
“disappointment.” Amen”

December 22: WHO WAS OLD SAINT NICK?

In the light of historical facts, it sounds contradictory that a key figure of western celebration of Christmas is Santa Claus or Old Saint Nick. The original Saint Nick was a man named Nicholas of Myra. He was a faithful Christian. The Emperor Diocletian burned him with hot irons and tortured him repeatedly for refusing to deny that Jesus was God. Following his death on December 6, 343 AD, he was known as Saint Nicholas, our so-called “Jolly Old Saint nick”.
His life was about sacrifice, about giving, about serving, about faithfulness to following Jesus as his Savior and Lord. His lifestyle was certainly contradictory to the way his name is used in frivolity. Sad to say, many historical facts have been lost in our shuffling the facts and figures of Christmas.
Jesus was the child of a homeless couple who found a retreat for his birthing in a common stable with animals watching. The glamorized presentations of churches during December, costing thousands of dollars, makes it hard to focus on the harsh reality of how the Son of man was mishandled and misunderstood in His birth or incarnation. Did you read about the church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida spending $1.3 million this month for their Christmas extravaganza?
In all of the beauty and pageantry, let us dig deeper for the true meaning of “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)
When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to poor, uneducated shepherds she said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10 NIV)
I think God kept it simple, stripped of glamour, so none would miss the point. Keep your Bible open. Read the naked facts daily. Stick with the facts.

“We thank You, O God, for being sure that we did not lose the historical
record of Nicholas of Myra. Help us to emulate his lifestyle this year. Amen”

December 21: TEACH US THE TRUE MEANING AGAIN

It occurred to me from advertisements I am seeing and conversations that I am overhearing that a lot of children are receiving mixed signals from the significant adults in their lives about the meaning of Christmas. This is sad. It is not surprising because the pattern was set the very first Christmas.
Matthew 2:7-8 (NIV) records, “The Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him’”. Of course, he didn’t want to worship, he wanted to kill him.
Pretense at worship is a deadly thing, especially for children. As sad as it is, at least children in families of Christ-rejecters don’t have to deal with hypocrisy.
Many people outwardly accept the birth of the Savior but inwardly reject Jesus and his lifestyle. (The Son of God, who didn’t own a place to lay his head at night would feel out of place in many sumptuous, suburban homes.) It confuses the children so much that some kids think the baby in the manger is like the Easter bunny or the Tooth Fairy.
When you drop your child off at the mall with a fistful of money to waste, “because its Christmas”, will you give the child an equal amount to give the Lord Jesus in worship? Parents need to partner with their children in a true worshipful time in December. After, all, they do know whose birthday it is, don’t they?
Resolve today that you haven’t given your child or grandchild anything for Christmas if you haven’t given them a fresh appreciation of the fact that “God loved the world so much that he gave his only son.” (John 3:16)
Don’t take a chance on leaving your child confused again. Focus on Jesus!

“Reveal to us, one more time, O Lord, the true meaning of Christmas. We
need to get back to the basics once more before Christmas Day. Amen”

December 20: WHAT GIFTS TO BRING?

What will you give Jesus for Christmas this year? Thought about it? It’s his birthday. But, you say, he already owns everything and doesn’t need anything. This is where your creativity must come in.
You already have several people on your Christmas list that don’t need anything but you got creative and bought something for them anyway because it was the right thing to do.
Christmas gift giving begins with a recognition that Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God. He should be first, not last, on our Christmas list.
Give to those He came to serve: the poor, the homeless, the prisoner, the hungry, the oppressed and the outcast. Is there a better way to honor him than to give ourselves to these?
Matthew 25:40 (NIV), “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” In the light of the scripture, Christian, you have just begun to give. Give some “time” to participate in a group working with society’s “devalued” persons: a Senior citizens group, prison visitation, help with an Ethnic family that doesn’t speak English well. Do you have a skill? Volunteer to cook, repair, provide transportation or just friendship for some of these disadvantaged persons.
Our best gifts to people may not cost us a dime, so we will still have money to share with missionaries in unevangelized countries. Unsaved, hurting people around the globe need the free salvation through Jesus; how wonderful if they could receive a Bible in their own language!
WARNING: You probably do not have enough time or money to do everything you have done before and add this on: this must replace some of what you have done and spent before.
What gifts will you bring?

“What shame we feel, Dear Lord, when we think of how we leave You
off our Christmas list until someone reminds us. We repent! Amen”

December 19: CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS

”
You know it hasn’t always been this way in America, don’t you? Did you know that Alabama was the first state to recognize Christmas Day in 1890? Did you know that Oklahoma was the last state of the then 48 states to legalize Christmas Day in 1890? Have we made progress or not?
In the Colonial America that we see in Williamsburg during December all seems quietly beautiful and reverent. But did you know that in Puritan-controlled Massachusetts Bay Colony that Christmas was just another day for business as usual? In fact, in May, 1659 the General Court of Massachusetts enacted in a law calling for a fine of five shillings for those observing Christmas Day. The Puritan preachers could not imagine celebrating the birth of the Savior with eating and drinking and having parties. Other colonies were not as strict but all emphasized the celebrating of Christmas with worship.
Now, just suppose: suppose a law was passed in Congress saying that you could no longer celebrate Christmas the way you always have in America? What would you do? Could you survive or endure December 25 if there was no entertainment to receive or entertaining to do? All of your efforts and time consumption, how would you redirect it?
At the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:13), “A great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ “ This should probably serve as our guideline or plumb line. Is everything I am planning for celebrating Christmas shaping up according to these words?
Somewhere between the Puritan extreme of no celebration and the current celebrate-only extreme is a meaningful holiday experience. Find it and give Jesus a worthy worship.

“Dear Lord Jesus, in our hearts we want to do it right but the pressures
of our desire for material things makes it so hard and we are weak. Amen

December 18: IMMANUEL (GOD IS WITH US)

Nearly 800 years before Christ was born a Prophet spoke “a virgin shall bring forth a child and you will call his name Immanuel”. (Isaiah 7:14) And on the night of Jesus’ birth the angels and the shepherds shouted it out in praise. It was daring, incredible, inconceivable that God would slip into the world in this way! Today “Immanuel’ slips easily from our tongues for centuries have dulled mankind’s sense of wonder. Join me in a sense of wonder today! God is with us!
God as a person is here! All the qualities of man are used to describe God; He is holy, righteous, and just. The God of Abraham, Moses, David! God, the Creator of all things. There was only one way for God to reveal himself to us and prove his love for us and that was by becoming one of us. Many pagan peoples worship God vaguely because they have never been told of Jesus the Christ yet. When I watch Reality shows on TV and some person screams out “O my God” I wonder who they are talking to and what they are talking about! The saying, “you can give without loving but you can’t love without giving’ certainly describes the God-man Jesus who came to us!
God as a presence is here! John 1:14 says, “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Known to us today because he is with us as a personal Savior. We no longer need to build an altar to “The Unknown God” because Jesus said “if you have seen me you have seen the Father”. If you will, Jesus is God’s visual aid to man. Hope is a reality now, prophecy is a fact now, faith is fruition now, desire is fulfilled now.
God as a Loving Savior is here. Salvation, in its fullest meaning of forgiveness, healing, comfort, moral strength cannot be given from afar. Sin is not forgiven by a word or stroke of a pen by one who knows nothing of its anguish. So Christ entered our world, faced sin and temptation at its worst, and carried us out of it. As Isaiah 53 gloriously says “He has borne our grief, carried our sorrows, and healed us with His stripes.”
“Merry Christmas” everyday! “Joy to the world” everyday! On March 2, 1791 the great Christian, John Wesley, died. One of his last statements was, “the best of all is, God is with us.”

“The reality of your presence is best of all and the very foundation of our
being children of hope. Hallelujah! Amen”

December 17: WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME

What’s in a name? A poet once asked that question and observed that “a rose by any other name would be just as sweet”. But, from my perspective today, there is much meaning in a name. My personal testimony for Christmas concerns three names for Jesus in the New Testament. When Matthew wrote his Gospel Jerusalem was in ashes, Rome’s grip was tighter than ever, the church had been kicked out of the Temple, and the Pharisees were trying to rebuild Judaism around the Law.
CHRISTMAS MEANS CHRIST THE KING IS HERE. “Hark the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the newborn King”. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” The long-awaited King of Righteousness has arrived and all nations will be blessed through His reign.
CHRISTMAS MEANS EMMANUEL, GOD IS WITH US. This is the beginning of the new reality. He is not off somewhere in space, hiding from us or teasing us in our weakness. As the hymn writer said, “my Lord is near me all the time.” He is here to guide, inspire, enlighten, and pick us up when we are down. He is not an absentee God, He is here and He is not silent as Francis Schaeffer once said. We are saved from the loneliness and aloneness that haunts humanity.
CHRISTMAS MEANS THAT JESUS THE SAVIOR HAS COME. At His birth Jesus made a dramatic entry at a stable in Bethlehem. At His entry to Jerusalem on Passover, again he dramatically grabbed the headlines from a donkey’s back. Look at the Christmas carols we sing; they are all evangelistic songs to tell the good news. We are so familiar with the words that we do not pay attention to the radical message we repeat. A Savior has come! We tend to make them happy-happy songs. Even non-Christians who don’t have a clue as to the meaning sing them out with gusto.
The spiritual meaning of Christmas comes from the Names of Jesus in such passages as Matthew 1:18-25. Jesus, Our Savior, Our God, Our King is here! Rejoice with me today! I’d rather have Jesus for Christmas than anything.

“There is indeed something about your Name, Lord Jesus! Yes, we bow
to that Name today and will gladly bow on the day You return to earth. Amen”

December 16: PROPHECIES OF HIS BIRTH

As we are only 9 days now from celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus, I want to remind us of some basic truths. Questions for your consideration first: What hopes and expectations did Jesus meet? What longing did He fulfill? What questions did He answer? What unexpressed feelings did He revive? The Apostle Paul explains, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons”. (Galatians 4:4-5a)
Five prophecies we need to review: He will be born in Bethlehem according to Micah 5:2. “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small, out of you will come one to rule Israel”. God uses the little and insignificant to carry out His plan! God’s ways are not our ways, outward appearance means nothing.
Secondly, God said Jesus would be a Righteous Branch from David’s line. (Jeremiah 33:15-16) So many Kings and Priests had failed God in their appointed missions that the people longed for a King to rule in righteousness.
Thirdly, Isaiah 7:14 says, “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son.” Better is a Divine Conception than a Virgin Birth. God is in control! This is God’s plan to get where we are! Call the Virgin’s offspring “Immanuel”, which means, “God is with us!”
Fourthly, our King Jesus will be a perfect King. We can go to Him whenever we wish because He is a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Then, in Matthew 1:21 the prophecy says that the Virgin will give birth to a son “and you are to give him the name ‘Jesus’ because he will save his people from their sins.” He will do something about my one problem that I am helpless to do anything about.
Imagine; for 800 years these prophecies were read daily in the home and Sabbath schools and the Temple, but nothing happened. NOW: they have all come true! What are you giving Jesus for Christmas?

“Father, it is good to see Jesus in light of your Eternal Plan for the
redemption of the world. Thank You for Your preparation. Amen”

December 15: ENCHANTED BUT UNCHANGED

One of the great memories that Fay and I treasure goes back to 1961. It was the first time we took our children to visit the Christmas display at Thalhimer’s Department Store in Richmond, Virginia. It was so beautiful and un-real, breathtaking. Adults and kids alike were spell-bound by the beauty. It was truly a fantasy land! We visited that place every year until we moved. As I think of it now, I think of the fantasy of Christmas that we experience during these days. We are still enchanted by Christmas in America, but we are not changed by it.
There certainly is an enchantment with the life of Christ. We view the account of the birth of Christ as a wonderful Fairy Tale! The Manger is not the point; the point is the Incarnation of God coming into the world. When the story of Christ is told it reminds some Americans of a success story like the poor Abraham Lincoln making it all the way to the White House. We are astonished at the early years of Christ, wonder at His silent years, glory in His active years, shudder at His death, and thrill at His resurrection. We are amazed at Jesus the Miracle worker: turning water into wine, calming the sea, feeding 5,000 people, and walking on water. We are amazed that He could do so much, of course we believe in Him!
In the same way we Americans are enchanted by Christianity. Starting with twelve men and now covering the whole world. The Church grows in spite of opposition or because of it. We say “the blood of the martyrs is the strength of the church”. We point with pride to the fact that every little community has at least one church. The church is voluntary in America, no one is forced to be a Christian. Indeed, how Jesus has changed this country and the whole world is heart-grabbing.
But if we are unchanged in heart, what good will this fascination with the baby Jesus do to us? Just taking a passing glance at the birth of Christianity is condemnation of our cult of bigness, success, outward appearance, materialism and plenty. He was born in a stable, laid in a manger, died on a cross, and was buried in a borrowed tomb. Enchanting? I agree! But has your life been changed by Jesus?

“As we entertain our guests these next few weeks, Loving God, help us
to present to them The Prince of Peace and not just pretty gifts. Amen”

December 14: WHAT ARE YOU SIGNALING?

Well, it started right after Halloween this year, that is, the playing of happy, holiday music. A spirit of happiness, real or manufactured, fills the air. Joyfulness and merriment are everywhere you look.
But, all is not well in Mudville. Several helping agencies have raised a cry for assistance. There is not much food in the food banks for the needy. The toy pick-ups for needy children are not fulfilling expectation. Houses being foreclosed and the mortgage crisis is creating an unexpected development for many families, something they have never experienced before. Try explaining to your kids that there won’t be many Christmas gifts this year. Several helping agencies have announced the forming of new support groups for people this Christmas. Many support groups will be available if you are suffering from seasonal depression or the “blues” this year.
So we have a divided community. Some people are laughing and some are crying. Merry Christmas! That depends on who you are talking to at the given moment. This becomes a particularly difficult problem if you are the only person in the house feeling sad when everyone else feels glad.
Can you help it? No, not if its clinical depression or rooted in a physical problem. (That makes Depression Screening important.) Both the depressed and the non-depressed need to be sensitive to one another.
A key truth for everyone, feeling up or down, is what the angel said in announcing the birth of Jesus. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 NIV) If Christmas is going to be a bummer, it will be hard to get excited about the New Year.
Let’s try not to send out mixed signals How about if all the people who are feeling great were sensitively aware of those feeling “down” and tried to show some personal concern about their emotions? How about if all the people who feel “down” just told people straight out how they feel so their companion would know they didn’t cause the depression? “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV)

“Father, it is so easy for us to become self-centered during a holiday time
and forget about others and forget about You. Stop us, please! Amen”

December 13: THE TENTH OF TEN

Now we come to the last Commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17) This temptation is the kind that really sneaks up on you and catches you and you are surprised that you have been caught “coveting”. Basically, it is the battle between greed and thanksgiving. Clearly we must establish that our satisfaction is in our relationship with God and not in any material thing or person. Taking preventive measures would help us not to yield to this temptation. There are a lot of helpful verses for our defense:
Luke 12:15 Has JESUS SAYING, “ Take heed and beware of covetousness; a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of things he possesses.” Mark 8:36 asks, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” “Put to death covetousness, it is idolatry”. (Colossians 3:5) If we get our minds fixated on a person or things, they literally become a god to us and we begin to worship them with our desires for them. This is a dangerous route: the desire for money leads to theft, the desire for prestige leads to evil ambition, the desire for power leads to tyranny, the desire for a person leads to sexual sin, and the desire for freedom leads to dissatisfaction.
Coveting is the opposite of the “desire to give” on which the home and family are built. Homes that have been destroyed by coveting can be reclaimed if Christ is allowed to be the Head of the House and direct the feelings and actions of all family members. Paul’s personal testimony is a good guide: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11) He describes it as a learning experience. Coveting is a natural part of the non-Christian life because you are living for self. Being born again changes the life drive. But the “old you” remembers what it was like to covet and get results and Satan is sure to remind you. So, as you grow in Christ, you learn that contentment is more satisfying than coveting.
Coveting can cause you to lose all of the meaningful relationships in your life. People will discover what your motivation in life is and they will fear what you might become. Confess this sin every time that you discover that you are guilty and do it immediately.

“Teach us, Lord! Lead us to a depth of understanding that if we have a
relationship with You that all other needs we have will be met. Amen”