Christmas and New Year’s have come and gone. Most of us are getting back into the daily activities that characterize our lives. In settling back into ordinary life, we need to keep Christmas in our hearts all year round.

Don’t forget the Babe in the manger just because He learned to walk and grew up.

He walked to that cross for you–and three days later, He walked out of that tomb, which has been empty for some 2000 years.

He kept His scars, so we would know it is really Himself–alive forevermore–Savior, Priest at God’s right hand interceding for us–and coming King–the Babe of Bethlehem, Prophet from Nazareth, and returning when least expected to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords eternally.

That nail-scarred hand is held out to you for salvation. If you haven’t already, place your hand in His, and be secure forever. He loves you.

God bless you with a year getting to know the One who created you and loved you to death–and life!

     Whom do we see when that Name is said? Is it the only begotten Son of God, Who is “the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His Person–“? The holy living God Who created all things that are– and provided a way to live with Him forever by accepting his free gift of grace?

     The One Who helped His foster father Joseph in the carpenter’s shop– then when it was time, walked the dusty roads of Galilee, choosing His followers, healing the sick, opening blind eyes and deaf ears, raising the dead– proclaiming Who He is (He is alive now, you know)– and dying for you and me– rising in three days to show doubters— “Touch me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

     Or the glorified God in Heaven Who awed His closest friend John to fall prostrate at His feet…

     Regardless, He is alive and well– “Jesus Christ IS the same, yesterday, today, and forever” — and He longs for your companionship. He is closer than breath. Please, Lord, may we truly

see Jesus.

There are two places we should never forget: the cross on Calvary, and that empty tomb in the garden.  What must it have been like to stand at the foot of the cross and watch the one you love most in this world breathe his last? That triumphant cry at the end, “It is finished!” must have confused them no end.

When we lose a friend, it seems as though the world has been darkened. We can’t understand how others continue as if nothing had happened, going about their business, not noticing the grief we feel. When the Son of God gave His life for us all, the sky was darkened as if it were night. When the veil of His flesh was torn, the thick veil high in the temple was also torn in two, opening the Holy of Holies to everyone, not just the High Priest once a year. Now we have a High Priest in the heavens at the right hand of God the Father who makes intercession for us daily.

He promised never to leave us, so He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to be with us and within us when we have come to Him for salvation. He brings to mind all the things Jesus said and did, and enables us to do things impossible to man, except for His intervention.

How great the joy to walk with Christ in this chaotic and challenging world! We must never forget, He promised never to leave us, and we should do “greater works than these because I go to my Father.” We must seek His will daily, then, in His strength, do it, not forgetting to thank Him. He is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Have you met Him yet?

Psalm 26:1 “Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in my integrity:I have trusted in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.“

In these hectic days, with everything in the world so chaotic, it is sometimes difficult to find the time for proper devotion. Our time with the Lord is the most vital and important time in our days, yet how much do we devote to Him?   We need to meditate on the beauty of the Lord, His mercy, His grace, Calvary and salvation, that empty tomb that justifies us, and the thrill of actually being indwelt by His Holy Spirit. We should go frequently to the throne in our hearts to worship Him. We need to pray for revival in each individual Christian. Then it will inevitably follow that our nation will be reminded of its roots. 

With Easter so close, and next Sunday being Palm Sunday, let’s be sure we remember what He did for us. How swiftly the crowd singing Hosanna and laying down palm branches turned into a mob demanding His death. With what futility Pilate washed his hands! On the Christian map of life, our north star is that cross on Calvary. Also, never forget that empty tomb, and the angel’s reminder: “He is not here, for He is risen, as He said.” Hallelujah!

The Lord instructs us: “Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4a) As long as we stay in close communion with our Lord, abiding in Him, He will keep us from sliding. Our opening Psalm of David ends with the way to do it. Verse 12: “My foot stands in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.”

Today is Veterans’ Day. We’re all praying for our active military around the world, especially in the war zones. We are also remembering those who have given their lives to keep our country free.

It takes a special kind of person to serve in the military. No matter what your feelings are on the subject, be aware that military service calls for more than a desire to be there for your country. It affects not only the military person, but also his or her family.

Having been the wife and daughter of a career Navy man, we know the sacrifices involved. How many birthdays, holidays, and irreplaceable times like baby’s first steps are given as the military person is on deployment? The wars are the hardest, of course. Knowing your military loved one is in constant danger makes everyday life that much more difficult.

If you know the Lord, you can make it through better, because you know He will take care of your loved one. It still isn’t easy, so we pray for all the families as well as the service people. Sometimes waiting is too difficult to describe, as many of you know.

So let’s thank the Lord for our country and all those willing to defend her. America has been so very blessed. We need to be very sure our foundation stays firm. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3

People used to call this holiday Armistice Day, but the Armistice failed. Just so will all man’s attempts at peace fail. Peace will come when Christ returns and reigns from David’s throne for the thousand years, as He promised. He keeps His promises. Let’s keep looking up!

Have a safe & blessed Veteran’s Day!

Have you ever noticed something only indicated in two special verses of Isaiah 41, verses 10 & 13? On reading them yet again, we noticed in verse 10 that the Lord promised to uphold His people with the right hand of His righteousness. Verse 13 says that He, the Lord God, will hold our right hands and tell us not to be afraid because He will help us.

Think about it—the way that comes across, it means that Christ is holding out His right hand and grasping our right hand! How wonderful is that? The Lord of Glory so close to us, face to face, clasping our hand in His nail-scarred one and promising to help us. Verse 10 says also that He will strengthen and uphold us. What a wonder this is, that the Creator of the Universe cares for each of us individually, as if there were only one needing His attention! That is the God we serve! So awe-inspiring in His power, majesty and holiness, yet this living God cares enough about us to reassure us that He IS with us, and we know that He will never leave us.

On the subject of hands, don’t forget—in John 10:28 & 29, we are reminded that we are IN the hand of our Lord, and that no one is able to take us from that secure position, which we will have for all eternity in Christ. If you don’t know this personally, please read Romans 10, verses 9 and 10. If you act upon that, these amazing blessings will be yours. We serve a living God, whose Only Begotten Son died for us and rose again so that we might have eternal life with Him. The joy of His fellowship every day would be worth it all, but there’s more: eternity with Him. Let’s praise the Lord!

When the air conditioning breaks down, you can realize how hot it really is! During two days of temperatures so high that there are excessive heat warnings, you can have heat exhaustion, no matter how many fans are running! When the cool air returns, you appreciate it as never before!

This is a reminder of the manifold blessings which the Lord has poured out upon us, which we too often take for granted. It takes a break from the norm to point us in the right direction to count our blessings and give Him the thanks, praise and honor He deserves.

Remembering the childhood days, we’re made aware that there was no air conditioning for many of us. In this part of the country, the humidity makes everything so much worse. For instance, when the thermometer hits 107, it can feel like 115 or above. I remember Dad’s old Army tent, which my friends and I used for a playhouse. It got so hot inside during the summer months, even the children couldn’t endure it for more than a minute or two. It makes one wonder how anyone can fail to realize how much hotter eternity in hell will be for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ and His free salvation for us.

Of course, the worst thing about that is, not only will one be tormented for eternity, but separated from God. How ungrateful it is to reject His salvation when it cost Him so dearly. He made humanity for companionship with Himself, and how grieved He must be when humans fail to realize what a blessed privilege that would be. Those of us who know the living Christ and walk in His presence feel so humbly blessed that there are no words to express our gratitude. Easter proved He lives, and of course, if you’ve ever met Him, you know He is alive, and nothing will ever shake you from that conviction. You don’t deny your other friends who are there for you. There’s no one who is as close as He is, or as faithful and never-failing.

Think about it next time you’re too warm. Don’t forget to praise Him, not just for the air conditioning, but also for the glory of His presence and the joy of His companionship!