Luke 1:38 New International Version 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary’s humble acceptace of God’s plan teaches us the importance of humility in leadership. Mary’s response “I am the Lord’s servant”, demonstrates a willingness to submit to God’s will & purposes. As Christians our humility allows us to recognise that our abilities & achievements come from God, not our own efforts. Embracing humility allows us to lead with grace, acknowledging our dependence on god’s wisdom and success.
Prayer
Father, we thank you for the example of Mary, who embraced humility & submission to your will. As Christians help us to lead with humble hearts, acknowledging our dependence on you. Keep us from pride and self reliance, and help us to always seek your wisdom & guidance in our leadership. May our humility be a testimony of your grace & love. Amen
45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Elizabeth’s words to Mary highlight the importance of believing in God’s promises. As Christians we may encounter seasons of waiting and uncertainty. Elizabeth’s faith in God’s promise encourages us to trust in His timing and remain steadfast in our belief. Just as Mary’s faith was rewarded, we can find hope knowing that God is faithful to fulfil His promises with reliance on him
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your faithfulness in fulfilling your promises. As Christians help us to anchor your trust in you, especially during times of uncertainty. Strengthen our faith, O Lord and grant us the patience yo wait upon your perfect timing. May our lives be marked by unwavering trust in your promises, knowing that you are faithful to fulfil them. Amen
When they had gone, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said. “Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him
Joseph’s obedience in fleeing to Egypt teaches us the importance of being obedient to God’s guidance. As Christians, we face decisions that may require us to step out of our comfort zones or face unforseen challenges. Joseph’s Immediate response to the angel’s warning shows us the significance of acting obediently and courageously in the face of uncertainty. Our obedience to God’s leading brings us into alignment with His plan, even if it leads us through uncharted territory.
Prayer
Gracious Father, we thank you for the example of Joseph, who acted obediently and couragously in the face of uncertainty. As Christians help us to trust in your leading and be obedient to your guidance, even when the path seems unclear. Strengthen our faith to step out in courage, knowing that you are with us every step of the way. May our obedience bring glory to your name. Amen.
11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The prophecy of the shoot from Jesse’s stump speaks of the emergence og new and unexpected leadership. Just as the seemingly lifeless stump produced new growth, God has the ability to raise Christians from unexpected places. As Christians, we should be open we should be open to recognising and empowering emerging members of our church fellowship. By nurturing and empoweringthem we participate in God’s transformitive work in the world.
Prayer
Father, We acknowledge that you are the one who raises up Christians from unexpected places. Help us to nurture the potential in those around us. May they grow and flourish with your guidance. Use us, O Lord, to be instruments of your work in the lives of others. Amen
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Whilst Sharing this reading with you I am reminded in verses 4 – 7 that thanksgiving in the USA is coming to an end, a time where the American’s give thanks for the harvest i’m told.
We must remember though that giving thanks to God doesn’t just apply to a certain time of the year, it applies all the year round. So today if you have something to thank God for, no matter what it is THANK HIM!
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
As a young Christian about the ages 11/12yrs I developed Epilepsy on the left side of my brain and have had it since (now 57)
I am a positive minded person so naturally I look at my condition with a positive mind but there are some who will/do look at their condition negatively.
I am on medication witch unfortunately doesn’t control the epilepsy completely as I still suffer what is called Complex & Simple partial seizures, most of the time these seizures don’t stop me doing my day to day things.
Where does my faith come in?
The fact that I’m a Christian with a positive mind helps a lot and speaking personally I have a wife, daughter, mother and many other family & Friends who care and look out for me.
10 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.2 They were all baptised into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.3 They all ate the same spiritual food4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a]8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Yield not to temptation,
For yielding is sin;
Each vict’ry will help you,
Some other to win;
Fight valiantly onward,
Evil passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus,
He will carry you through.
Refrain:
Ask the Saviour to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
2 Shun evil companions,
Bad language disdain;
God’s name hold in rev’rence,
Nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest,
Kindhearted and true;
Look ever to Jesus,
He will carry you through. [Refrain]
3 To him that o’ercometh,
God giveth a crown;
Through faith we will conquer,
Though often cast down;
He who is our Saviour,
Our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus,
He will carry you through. [Refrain]
A song of Testimony, and what a testimony we have in verse three. Tis true when we overcome sin we are rewarded by God and it is by faith we conquer that sin. Yes we as humans get knocked back from time to time, but it is through our strength and belief in God that as long as we look to Jesus he will carry us through
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”[f]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.
50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[h]
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
The Story Behind Thine Is The Glory
In 1884, Edmond L. Budry used Handel’s melody and wrote lyrics for them, which he named “A Toi la Gloire.” It is told that he was motivated to write it following the passing of his first wife, Marie de Vayenborg in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was later printed in the French hymn book, Chants Evangéliques. The hymn was first translated from French into English by Richard B. Hoyle in 1923. He was commissioned to transcribe the hymn by the World Student Christian Federation after Budry gave permission to reprint it from the French version.
God, what kind of a world is this that the adult people are going to leave us for children?
There is fighting everywhere and they tell us we live in a time of peace.
You are the only one who can help us.
Lord, give us a new world in which we can be happy in which we can have friends and work together for a good future.
A world in which there will not be any cruel people who seek to destroy us and our world in so many ways. Amen
1 Peace in our time, O Lord, To all the peoples—peace! Peace surely based upon thy will And built in righteousness. Thy power alone can break The fetters that enchain The sorely stricken soul of life, And make it live again.
2 Too long mistrust and fear Have held our souls in thrall; Sweep through the earth, keen Breath of Heaven, And sound a nobler call! Come, as thou didst of old, In love so great that men Shall cast aside all other gods And turn to thee again.
3 O shall we never learn The truth all time has taught, That without God as architect Our building comes to naught? Lord, help us, and inspire Our hearts and lives that we May build, with all thy wondrous gifts, A Kingdom meet for thee.
4 Peace in our time, O Lord, To all the peoples-peace! Peace that shall build a glad new world, And make for life’s increase. O, living Christ, who still Dost all our burdens share, Come now and dwell within the hearts Of all men everywhere.
Christian Devotions, Health and General issues of the day 