Luke 2:19 New International Version 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Like mary treasured the events of Jesus’ birth, Christians should learn from the busyness of Christmas, It is crutial to take moments of reflection and contemplation, just as Mary did. These times of reflection allow us to gain insights from our experiences, learn from our mistakes and grow as Christians. By cherishing the lessons we’ve learned, we can continually improve and become more effective Christians.
Prayer
Gracious God, We thank yo for the valuable lessons we’ve learned through our Christian journey. As we reflect on our experiences, help us to gain insights and wisdomthat will make us better Christians. Grant us the humility to learn from our mistakes and the courage to grow from our challanges. 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
Just as Joseph named the child Jesus, Christians have the oppertunity in guiding and shaping the lives of others. The power of words should never be underestimated, and as Christians, our words carry weight and influence. Joseph’s act of naming Jesus held profound significance, foreshadowing the purpose of Christ’s life. Let us use our words to insipre, encourage and uplift those in need, helping them discover the God given purpose and potential.
Prayer
Lord, We thank you for the privilage of ministery and the opportunity to influence the lives of those aroud us. Help us to be mindful of the words we speak, using them to build up and encourage others. May we inspire and empower those we serve to reach their fullest potential in you. Amen.
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
The prophecy of a child being born as a Wonderful Councillor reminds us of God’s unwavering support in our lives journey. As Christians, we are not alone. Jesus, the Wonderful Councillor is with us, offering guidance, wisdom, and comfort. Recognising His presence in our lives gives us confidence and assurance, even challenging circumstances. As we encounter difficulties or uncertainty, we can find solace in knowing that the Wonderful Councillor is available to provide wisdom and direction.
Prayer
Loving Father, we thank you for being our Wonderful Councillor, guiding and supporting us in our lives. As Christians, we acknowledge the need for your wisdom and insight. May we seek your counsel in every decision we make, trusting that you know what’s best for us. Grant us the discernment to hear your voice and the courage to follow your leadership. Amen!
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.
Recently one of the bloggers that I follow posted a remarkable testimony about a condition she suffered from and how it led her to faith in Christ. It was a video entitled ‘My Story’. She starts of by saying there was a lot of darkness in her past, but points out that Christ rescued her.
Moving on to High School she says her condition got worse when her friend started having sex and drinking alcohol . Then came the lies to her friends etc. In the video she tells of how ‘the thief was able to take her strong faith’ as a devout catholic. The Devil was in control of her and the condition.
She went to an inpatient Facility for three months, speaks of what the youth pastor said to her before she went he said “Do you know what you are doing to you’re father” it was then she realised she had been lying to everyone in her life especially her father. While she was having a session with one of the doctors she had a ‘out of body experience’, later on that night in chapel she had what she called her come to Jesus moment. In that moment she fell to her knees and knew that Jesus had forgiven her, she was ‘saved’ and started on the road to recovery from her condition.
From now on she didn’t have to worry because she knew Jesus was with her and loved her, she could feel his presence althrough out her recovery by giving her the strength to get through that timeShe finishes of the video by saying ‘She would not have her recovery if it weren’t for Jesus’ and quotes Ezekiel 37:5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. Jesus breathed life back into this person
This was the Song used for her ‘Come to Jesus Moment’
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. There’s something about that name Master saviour Jesus It’s like the fragrance after rain
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Let Heaven and Earth proclaim Kings and kingdoms will all pass away There is something about that name
These song lyrics, written by Bill and Gloria Gaither, were born following the death of their grandparents, the birth of their children, and dealing with sickness in their family. Seeing their faith in the passing of their grandparents and finding comfort and peace through Jesus while facing their fears and anxiety, the Gaithers composed this popular hymn.
While the name of Jesus brings hope, offers peace and comforts the hearts of Believers, it upsets and irritates atheists, infidels and unbelievers. Just ask Britt Hume. Tim Tebow. Phil Robertson. Or the apostle Peter.
In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested following their healing of the lame man and for preaching Jesus. As they made their defence before the Sanhedrin Peter boldly affirmed that it was “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.”
Finally, Peter proclaimed: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
The name of Jesus upset the rulers and the unbelieving Jews, so the council conferred among themselves and commended them “not speak at all nor teach the name of Jesus.”
“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
2,000 years later the controversy continues. Saying “I thank God” on national TV doesn’t spark the same reaction as invoking the name of Jesus. Why? Because “God” may mean anything or anyone to the hearer. Some ethereal Being. Allah. Or another deity. But Jesus is specific. Jesus was a real person. He lived a perfect live. Called his followers to holiness. And claimed equality with God.
There’s just something special about that name!
Shakespeare said in Romeo and Juliet “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” But the Bard of Avon was wrong! There something in a name. The name Benedict Arnold stands for treason. But Patrick Henry stands for courage. A name can be a burden or blessing? Remember Johnny Cash’s song “A boy named Sue?
A name speaks to the issue of identity. The wise man wrote, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver and gold. (Prov 22:1). The name of Jesus is great because of who He is. What He did. And how He impacts our lives.
There’s just something about that name.
Jesus is the most unique person in all of history. He has been given more titles, designations and metaphorical descriptions than anyone who has ever lived. One concordance lists 198 appellations attributed to Jesus.
Jesus is called the Ancient of Days. The Almighty God. And the Anointed one. He is the Beloved Son, the blessed of God and the Bridegroom. Jesus is called the Christ. The Captain of our Salvation. And the Chief Cornerstone.
Jesus is the Deliverer, the Divine Son, and the Door of the Sheep. He was called Emmanuel by the Angel, Master by his followers, and Rabbi by curious seekers. The Prophets identified Jesus as the Prince of Peace, the Root of David, and Redeemer of Israel.
The apostle Paul penned that Jesus was the Mediator, the Righteous Judge, and the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. John said Jesus was the Bright and Morning Star, the Beginning and the End, and the Alpha and the Omega.
Peter confessed Him as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Following the resurrection, when Thomas witnessed his riven side and nail scarred hands, he exclaimed, “My Lord! And my God!” John the Forerunner simply said Jesus was “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
And Jesus? Well, he said, “I am the Way, The Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
His name is Jesus. How fitting. Because it literally means “saves.” Indeed Jesus saves!
There’s just something about that name.
We Love the name The holy name Your precious name
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. There’s just something about that name.
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[b] because he loved us first.
20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[c] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.[d]
Loving One Another
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[b] because he loved us first.
20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[c] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.[d]
Loving One Another
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[b] because he loved us first.
20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[c] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.[d]
O perfect Love, all human thought transcending, Lowly we kneel in prayer before Thy throne, That theirs may be the love which knows no ending, Whom Thou forevermore dost join in one.
O perfect Life, be Thou their full assurance, Of tender charity and steadfast faith, Of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance, With childlike trust that fears not pain nor death.
Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow; Grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife; And to life’s day the glorious unknown morrow That dawns upon eternal love and life.
Christian Devotions, Health and General issues of the day 