Women of Worship - February 16, 2014

Bring a sister, mother, daughter, neighbor, friend . . .
and come and be BLESSED

Mount Moriah AME Church

Rev. Robert R. Lowe, Pastor

116-20 Francis Lewis Blvd., Cambria Heights, NY

(718) 276-1908

Happy Valentine's Day

Today, let's Celebrate the Real Meaning of LOVE

National Friend Sunday is Coming!

March 30 marks the first annual Friend Sunday, when churches all over will join together and encourage their members to reach out and invite friends and family to a special service where friendship is honored and encouraged.

Through word of mouth and church outreach, the Friend Sunday movement hopes to reach every home in America with an invitation to a Bible-believing church and ultimately into a relationship with Jesus. Get your CHURCH involved today! 

Outreach, Inc.offers lots of materials to promote this Sunday and make it a success.  But a bare minimum, they offer the opportunity for you to list your Church for FREE in the Friend Sunday Database so that whosoever may be looking for a friendly church, can find YOU . . . So why are you waiting?  Visit http://friendsunday.com/addyourchurch and get your CHURCH involved today!  Or visit their Facebook page and make a commitment to invite all your friends to church.

What the world needs now is Jesus!  And who better to introduce Him then a FRIENDLY Church whose mission is to make God known!

Don’t Block the Light!

Mark 4:21 (NIV)
He said to them, Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?

The purpose of a lamp is to aid us in seeing in dark and dim places.  If a lamps’ light is hidden it is utterly useless.  For instance, have you ever tried to walk around in the dark, even in a familiar setting?  When there is no light in the physical, we fall, we stumble, bump our knees or stub our toes and boy does that hurt!  To avoid walking timidly through rooms bent over with arms outstretched before us we turn on the light so we can clearly see and thus walk upright with confidence.

As it is in the natural so it is in the spiritual.  Lamps are often symbolic of the light of God and His truth; which when applied helps us to maneuver in otherwise dark and barren places.  After receiving God’s truth, we are responsible for actively applying it in our lives.  It is not enough to hear the truth but to be active participants in living it and sharing it as well.  If we don’t and instead choose to cover the light with shades of envy, jealousy, unforgiveness, or dim it through lenses of complacency or rebellion we stumble and bruise ourselves unnecessarily.

So let us choose to examine ourselves daily to see if there is anything blocking God’s light.  For our Christian walk should not just be in lip service, but should be a lifestyle; one that like a bright light can be clearly seen by all.

Prayer:  Abba Father, search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and help me to daily walk in Your will and let Your light shine before men that people will see Your truth reflected in my daily living and desire to know You.  Amen

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Are You Following The True Shepherd?

John 10:1-2
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Be careful of whom you take Godly counsel from.  For if anyone comes to you teaching a Gospel other than Jesus the Christ crucified and resurrected they are a thief and a robber, attempting to steal your faith and thus your eternal reward and promise. 

That is why it is important to study the word for yourself, so you can know when someone is preaching or teaching a distorted doctrine.  The bible says study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth – 2 Timothy 2:15. 

There are many that God has appointed to be under shepherds of His flock and there are many who have called themselves to the position.  I thank God for all those Pastors, Preachers and teachers who preach and teach the unadulterated (complete and total, having nothing added, mixed or diluted) Word of God from sincere hearts of love and reverence for the Lord! 

Prayer –   Lord thank you for the true shepherd Jesus the Christ who has given us a spirit of discernment that we will not fall prey to those who come for reasons other than your authentic call.

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

AMAZING GRACE, AMAZING LOVE

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Isn’t it comforting to know that even on your worst day, the God who created heaven and earth loved you so much that He willingly suffered so you wouldn't have to.  Willingly died so you could live! 

In this present day and age where people are more selfish than selfless, more self-centered than self-sacrificing, that kind of love is unheard of, that kind of sacrifice birthed from love is simply A‑M‑A‑Z‑I‑N‑G!

PrayerLord you are truly amazing . . . to think a God like you could love a person like me is simply amazing.  Thank you for your love, teach me not to ever take it for granted.

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

He Will Be Called Wonderful

by Billy Graham
Billy Graham, the world-renowned author, preacher, and evangelist has delivered the gospel message to more people face-to-face than anyone in history and has ministered on every continent of the world; millions have read his inspirational classics.

He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. — Isaiah 9:6

My dictionary defines wonderful as “so unusual or magnificent that it causes wonder and amazement.” What a description of Jesus!

First, Jesus was wonderful in His pre-existence. As the perfect man who was also God, He existed from all eternity. Only He is equally at home in Heaven and on Earth.

Jesus was wonderful in His birth. To right the wrongs of the world and redeem a fallen race, God sent not angelic armies but a tiny baby, His Son, to accomplish this majestic purpose — born not of man but of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus was wonderful in His life. His enemies could not find a single flaw in His character. His miracles and His teaching both testified to His divine authority.

Christ was also wonderful in His death. He died for others just as He had lived for others: to make our salvation possible. And this death led to the wonderful, glorious resurrection, opening for us the door to Heaven and eternal life.

Jesus is wonderful indeed!

* * *
Reflection
In your daily life, is Jesus “so unusual or magnificent that (He) causes wonder and amazement”? Draw close to Him! Be amazed! Come share on our blog what wonderful things the Lord is doing that fill you with wonder and awe! We’d love to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Mary’s Song is Our Song Too!

Luke 1:46-55 (NIV)
And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.  From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.  His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

This text comes after the angel Gabriel has informed Mary, that although still a virgin, she is indeed pregnant and will give birth to a son, and this Son will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The text comes after Mary visits her relative Elizabeth who is also pregnant by a miracle of God, and the baby Elizabeth is carrying leaps in her womb to testify to the presence of the Son of God in Mary's womb.  And at this time Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cries out  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”  

It is after these things that Mary's Song is documented in Luke 1:46-55, where Mary testifies the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name!  But in truth, this great thing was not just for Mary but for ALL humanity.  Jesus, God incarnate, took on flesh to dwell among us, to take our sins, past, present and future upon Himself, bear the burden and punishment of them so that we could be FREE.

We are reading this text after Jesus has already come in the flesh, and after He has already paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and after we have believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to us, of cleansing us of all unrighteousness; so we can and should sing as Mary did ... for the Mighty One has done GREAT things for me—holy is his name!

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Let Your Life Speak for You!

1 John 1:4-7 (New International Version)
We write this to make our joy complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

This is a strong no nonsense message from the Apostle John, the Disciple whom Jesus loved (John 13:23).  It cuts right to the heart of the matter to enable persons to discern if they have a real and healthy relationship with God, or if they are just playing church, pretending to know the one God sent.  John begins this pericope by declaring his authority in speaking this message, for he shares that everything he is communicating about the person of Jesus is not based on second hand information or hearsay but on up close and personal experience with the Master.

In the text John declares to those who have a spiritual ear to hear that God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

LIGHT implies every essential excellence, especially wisdom, holiness, and happiness.
DARKNESS implies all imperfection, and principally ignorance, sinfulness, and misery.  The Adam Clarke Commentary on 1 John 1

The Apostle John goes on to state the simple truth that IF we claim to know Jesus, if we claim to be Christians, if we claim to be saved, sanctified and Holy Ghost filled and yet keep on perpetually, repeatedly and purposely sinning, then we LIE and the truth, the Word of God, is not in us.  John is speaking here about a continuous, unrepentant, pattern of behavior that is contrary to God’s will.

The reality is, we don’t have to walk around with a large bible under our arms, christianese on our tongues and a cross around our neck to declare we are saved and set apart; the reality is, we need simply let our everyday living speak for us.  If we are walking in the Light as our Father in Heaven is Light, it will be evident in our daily living.  We won’t be perfect, we will make mistakes, but we will still give off a glow, a reflection of the Light. We won’t have to tell the world, we’re saved, sanctified and Holy Ghost filled, we can simply let our life speak for us!

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Are You a Trailblazer for Jesus?

Isaiah 40:3-5 (NIV)
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Blazing a Trail Through the Wilderness — by Mike Ford
Isaiah begins with the voice of one crying in the wilderness. The voice prophesied was that of John the Baptist. Who would John be speaking to, proclaiming his message of repentance? To all who would "hear" him! Those "who have ears to hear", which would be all those with whom God is working, His firstfruits!

What did that "voice" say? What did he call on his audience to do? Prepare the way of the LORD. The instruction becomes more specific: ". . . make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill shall be made low, the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth." Filling up valleys and removing the tops of mountains seems like a lot of work for one man. This is where the firstfruits come in. Why are we to do this? So that "the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

Albert Barnes, in his commentary on Isaiah written in 1851, remarks on these verses:

The idea is taken from the practice of Eastern monarchs, who, whenever they entered on a journey or an expedition, especially through a barren and unfrequented or inhospitable country, sent harbingers [forerunners] or heralds before them to prepare the way. To do this, it was necessary for them to provide supplies, and make bridges, or find fording places over the streams; to level hills, and construct causeways over valleys, or fill them up; and to make a way through the forest which might lie in their intended line of march.

Those who went before, to mark and improve the route, were the forerunners. They were "the scouts, the pioneers, the ones sent before a king to prepare the way," as forerunner is defined. Recall Daniel Boone and his party of thirty expert woodsmen laying out a 200-mile-long route. Over time, as more people came over the trail, it was improved, widened, and smoothed. It all began, however, with one man. That man then led others, and it multiplied from there.

John the Baptist was one man "crying in the wilderness," yet he prepared the way for the Son of God. Each of us, in our daily lives, interacts with family, coworkers, neighbors, and others who may know little or nothing of God and His Word. Our words and deeds could well pave the way for any of them to answer God's call at another time. Each of us has opportunities to set an example that will affect their lives, hopefully in a positive way. In this way, each of us is a forerunner, marking and improving the trail through the conduct of our lives.  — Mike Ford.  Click the link to read the entire Devotional -- Blazing a Trail Through the Wilderness

Prayer
Eternal God, help us to let our light shine before humanity daily, so that we properly represent who You are; and so when people see the good we do and the love we share; You get the glory!

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

We are LIVING Stones

1 Peter 2:4-6 (NKJV)
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
     “Behold, I lay in Zion
     A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
     And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

In this text, Jesus is likened to a Stone foundation, in fact here He is called the Chief Cornerstone.  He is also referred to as a Living Stone, to indicate that He is the source of life to ALL His followers.

Peter tells us that people who follow Jesus are likewise like Living stones.  This reveals that it is in union with Christ that we live, move and have our being.  See the stones of a building are of no real use unless they occupy their proper places in a building, and rest securely on the foundation.  Stones dislodged from a building that are no longer connected to the building are no longer considered building material or useful but instead are generally referred to as rubble; defined as fragments of broken stones & bricks.  But those who build their house on Jesus, on the unadulterated and pure Word, then like the wise man who built his home upon the rocks, come what may, you’re Still Standing!

There is actually a plant called living stones (a/k/a Lithops), they look very much like the rocks they are growing near.  The difference being of course that they are not rocks but actually a plant native to South Africa.  They range in color from gray to brown to green with varied patterns on top.  Although it looks like a rock, during late summer a single daisy like flower will bloom from each plant.  Similarly, we are living stones, we look like everyone else by way of our outward appearance; yet we are different; for we, through God, are made fully alive.  Moreover, when we are properly nourished by the Word of God, and reach maturity just like Lithops you can see us begin to blossom, flower and bear good fruit!

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Immanuel, God With Us by Ann Spangler

from Immanuel: A Daily Guide to Reclaiming Christmas

The Name
The name Immanuel appears twice in the Hebrew Scriptures and once in the New Testament. In Greek, it is rendered Emmanouel. One of the most comforting of all the names and titles of Jesus, it is literally translated with us is God or, as Matthew’s Gospel puts it, God with us. When our sins made it impossible for us to come to Him, God took the outrageous step of coming to us, of making Himself susceptible to sorrow, familiar with temptation, and vulnerable to sin’s disruptive power, in order to cancel its claim.


In Jesus we see how extreme God’s love is.

Remember this the next time you feel discouraged, abandoned, or too timid to undertake some new endeavor.  For Jesus is still Immanuel — He is still God with us.

Key Scriptures
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of human beings? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:13–14

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). — Matthew 1:22–23

Reflecting on the Name 
How have you experienced Immanuel — God being with you, in your life thus far? Matthew begins and ends his Gospel (see Matthew 28:20) with the promises that God is with us. How would your life be different if you began and ended each day with the firm belief that God is with you? What does this title of Jesus reveal about His nature?

Prayer
Immanuel, I praise You for Your faithful love — drawing near when I was far from You. Instead of casting me away from Your presence, You came to call me home. Instead of punishing me for my sins, You came to free me from them. Immanuel, my God, You are here with me today. Live in me and glorify Your Name, I pray.

Click the link to read the entire Devotional -- Immanuel, God With Us

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Children of the Light

Ephesians 5:8-14 (New Century Version)
In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light.  Light brings every kind of goodness, right living, and truth.  Try to learn what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the things done in darkness, which are not worth anything.  But show that they are wrong.  It is shameful even to talk about what those people do in secret. But the light makes all things easy to see, and everything that is made easy to see can become light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper!
    Rise from death,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Have you ever entered a dark room, possibly your own, and everything appears okay because it's dark. But the moment you turn on the light ... WHOA!  In the light, you see everything that's out of place that you weren't readily able to make out while in the dark!
It can also happen when you replace a light bulb that was growing dim, and now the new bulb shines brightly, so much so, that you are able to see smudge marks on the walls, dirt on the floor, furniture in need of repair, or other items that may not have stood out so much in the dim lighting.

In the spiritual, the same type of thing takes place when we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness (our old carnal self) to the Kingdom of Light, (our new self / life IN Christ).  Things that used to seem okay, we can now more clearly see are out of order and not pleasing to God.

When we enter the Light (new life IN Christ), transformation of our character should happen little by little. And if, after walking with God for a while, you find that you are still very comfortable in and with all your spiritual messiness, you need to ask yourself if you are truly LIVING in the light as God intended!

Prayer
Search me God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and bring it to my attention so I may repent.  Lead me Lord in the way You would have me to go.  Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You; and to always walk in the Light for that is where You are and thus where my help and every good thing is!  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.


To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Walk in the Light

John 12:35-36 (New International Version)
Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.  Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

We are instructed by Jesus to Walk in the Light while there is yet day.  We are advised to make good use of our daylight hours so as not to be consumed by the darkness.

The reality is, this is a dark and dying world; and as such, it is easy to get distracted if we take our eyes off the Light!  This means we have to have a sho nuff relationship with Him; so that when everyone is acting strange from playing in the dark too long; WE will not fall prey to their sickness for we will know & remember what it means to Walk in the Light!

Jesus goes on to say whoever walks in darkness does not know where they are going, they are lost and without hope. Have you ever driven down a dark highway that you were unfamiliar with?  It can be a very unnerving experience!  The same is true for the dark streets of LIFE!  When we fail to look to and walk in the light Jesus already provided for us, we can become easily unhinged, unnerved and afraid, which is not the existence God intended for us.  But thankfully the remedy is simple:  simply remember to keep your High Beams on and Walk in His Light!

Walking in the light, beautiful light;

ain't it wonderful how the light shines?

Trusting in the light, beautiful light;

ain't it wonderful how the light shines.

Walk in the light, beautiful light,

come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.

Oh shine all around us by day and by night,

Jesus is, Jesus is the light of the world;

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On

Light for Each Step
July 27, 1994 — by Richard De Haan

Someone has observed, “He who carries a lantern on a dark road at night sees only one step ahead. When he takes that step, the lamp moves forward and another step is made plain. He finally reaches his destination in safety without once walking in darkness. All the way is lighted, but only a single step at a time. This is the method of God’s guidance.”

When a person receives the Lord Jesus as Savior, he knows his ultimate destination and is assured of his safe arrival. But the dark cloud of the unknown can veil the pilgrim pathway. Potential pitfalls, lurking dangers, and tragic missteps often upset the weary traveler and rob him of the peace and confidence the Lord intended for him to enjoy.

But as the child of God refuses to worry about tomorrow and trusts Him for today, he finds by the light of God’s Word the grace and guidance for every situation in life. Even as a lantern illuminates each new step on a dark road at night, so the lamp of Scripture provides light on our pathway.

It isn't necessary to see beyond what the Lord reveals. Following His leading, there’s always enough light for each step of the way!

He does not lead me year by year,
Nor even day by day;
But step by step my path unfolds—
My Lord directs my way. —Ryberg

No need to fear the darkness tomorrow if you’re walking in God’s light today.

____________________________________________

Additional resource for personal devotion to allow God's word to light your every step.

"Learning to walk with God is a journey. The questions and directions in this prayer and study guide will help you to examine your walk with God and do what is necessary to strengthen, deepen, and enhance it. As you walk in faith through difficult times, this prayerful workbook will help you see how faithfully God’s light attends each step and moment of your life."
—Stormie Omartian, Author of Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On 


To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

Blue Christmas

Psalms 43:3-5
Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.  I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Blue Christmas is a very real phenomenon!  Although there may be many who look forward with gleeful anticipation to this season, there are still others, who through loss of loved ones, financial strain, or health issues; or those who find their families in sudden crisis, find this time of year a very lonely and painful time.

The reality is, that although the light of God is in the World, and although you yourself have accepted the truth, that does not exclude you from experiencing both the ups and the downs of real life.

In today's text, King David a man after God's own heart is experiencing such a time of discouragement and despair.  But thankfully, he knows the answer to his dilemma! To continue to praise the name of the Lord! The truth is, when we make the conscious decision to open our mouths to give God praise, despite our circumstance, despite our fickle emotions, the enemy who has come to oppress us with fear, doubt, depression and self-pity cannot remain, but must FLEE.  If you dare open your mouth and bless God with the fruit of your lips, in the midst of it; you will see a shift in your countenance, and feel a lift in your spirit. The gray fog and haze will quickly pass away, and the Peace of God, which passes all understanding, and the joy of the Lord, which is your strength, will be your new and constant companions!

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

A Different Kind of Christmas by Sharon Jaynes

"Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measure to you." -- Luke 6:38

Friend to Friend
Of all the Christmases that Mike Wekall remembers, his seventh stands out from all the rest. Mike was the fifth of six Wekall children. Like every child, Mike met December with the anticipation of new toys, freshly baked goodies, glittering decorations, and school vacation. But one week before Christmas, Mike’s parents called the children into the den.

"Kids, I’ve have some bad news for you," Mr. Wekall said, barely able to look his children in the eye. "As you know, things have been pretty tight at work this year. In fact, we are going to have to file bankruptcy, so we won’t have Christmas this year. I’m sorry. Maybe we can make it up to you next year." Then he quietly walked out of the room.

The children just sat there for a while in silence. Mike thought to himself, "What does he mean 'we won’t have Christmas'? Does that mean I’ve been bad and Santa isn’t going to come? And what is bankruptcy?"

It was a confusing time for little Mike, but one thing became perfectly clear on Christmas morning--Christmas had not come to the Wekall house. No presents were under a tree, and the aroma of a roasting turkey did not come from the kitchen. The family did, however, go off to church that crisp, cold morning. When they arrived at church, all the other children were sporting new clothes and chattering about what they had found under their trees.

"Hey, Mike, what’d you get?" one asked.

“Nothin'. We didn’t have Christmas at our house. We’re having a bankruptcy."

"What's wrong? Have you been too bad to get anything? Didn’t you even get a few switches?"

Feeling rather blue, the family of eight went home for a lunch of lima beans and hamhocs. About an hour later, the door bell rang. "Maybe it is Santa after all," Mike thought as he ran to the door.

Standing in the doorway wasn’t Santa, but it was the Bosky family, all ten of them. Each of the eight children had smiles on their faces and two gifts in their hands. Mr. and Mrs. Bosky held a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

As it turned out, the eight Bosky children went home from church and told their parents about how the Wekalls weren’t having Christmas this year. Seeing how they had been so richly blessed, the children decided to pick two of their toys and wrap them up for the Wekalls. Mom and Dad joined in and brought gifts for the parents. Even though Mrs. Bosky had Christmas dinner all choreographed for her own dining room, she gathered up the food in boxes and baskets to share with a family who needed it more.

That was over forty years ago, but Mike still gets tears in his eyes when he shares this story. "It was the best Christmas I have ever had," he told me. "The Spirit of God showed me that Christmas wasn’t about getting presents but about giving and caring for others. It is about showing goodness toward other people. Every year, I tell this story to someone, because it exemplifies how Christ gave so freely of Himself for us."

Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I have so much and I am surrounded by people who have so little. Show me someone I can help this Christmas. Open the eyes of my heart to see the needs of others. Make me an extension of Your lavish love. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Today's Devotional From Bible Gateway Advent Devotional

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

See, Come & Worship

Matthew 2:1–2 (NKJV)
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

These wise men were not of Jewish descent and as such they did not practice the spiritual regulations of Judaism or know intimately the God of the Jews. Yet, when they saw the star rising, as they were wise men, called "magi", (this term covered a wide variety of men interested in dreams, astrology & magic), they read the sign of the times in the sky and stopped what they were doing to seek and go after it and worship the true and living God.  This speaks directly to the Old Testament text in Isaiah 60:3 “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn”.

This text demonstrates that God is a God of ALL people, if they would dare look up and see Him, by their own free will come to Him and choose to Worship Him because He is worthy of that honor.

This Advent season won't you see the brightness of the Glory of God in all creation, in His mercy which is new everyday, and His grace which is sufficient for your every issue and concern, and may that compel you to come into His presence, spending regular quality, one on one time with your Abba Father, and in His Divine presence, as He breathes on You and simply because of who He is may it lead you to Worship Him in Spirit and in truth, word and deed, in your everyday life.

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

DAVID WILKERSON DEVOTIONS:

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5–6).

God gave the prophet Jeremiah a revelation of Jehovah Tsidkenu (pronounced Je-HO-va Sid-KAY’-noo) in a time of crisis similar to the one we face today. So, what does this mean for us, in practical terms? What is this righteousness he’s the Lord of—and how are we to know and understand Jesus in this role?  Paul gives us some insight into God’s definition of righteousness in several passages.

• “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
  
• “Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness” (Romans 4:9).
•  “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Galatians 3:6).

Each of these verses refers to one thing that Abraham did to attain true righteousness: he believed.

Finally, Paul provides the Lord’s definition of righteousness: “[Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:20–22).

The Bible could not make this matter any clearer. Righteousness is believing the promises of God, being fully persuaded He’ll keep His word.

David Wilkerson [May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.

A Light in Dark Places

John 1:6-9 (NIV)
There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

How many accidents could be avoided if we only had a light for all our dark places?  How many people have stubbed their toe because it was too dark to see that piece of furniture sticking out?  How many accidents are there on dimly lit roads because it was just too dark to see past a few feet ahead?  

In the natural, many accidents small and large happen, because of our inability to see clearly in the dark.  Likewise, in the spiritual, many mistakes or poor choices are made when we walk in darkness, and we need the light of the Lord to help us see clearly the paths we should take.  But to first see the light, having no light in ourselves, we need to first have someone point to the light to show us the way.  In Biblical times, it was John the Baptist who came before Jesus to testify of the light that was coming into the world.  Today it is us, if we allow God's light to shine through us in our daily living, that will allow others to see God and He in turn gets the glory.

Won't you make a conscious decision to be a light in dark places, on your job, your commute, even your family?  A beacon of light shining for all the world to see; so that through your good works they see God!  

To God Be The Glory

The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some time during the holiday season to reflect on our faith. The Bible readings we will read echo the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, hope, and the coming of the promised Messiah.