The Devil's Burdens..... Streams in the Desert

 

The Devil's Burdens

Streams in the Desert

There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God (Hebrews 4:9).

The rest includes victory, "And the Lord gave them rest round about;... the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand" (Joshua 21:44). "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

An eminent Christian worker tells of his mother who was a very anxious and troubled Christian. He would talk with her by the hour trying to convince her of the sinfulness of fretting, but to no avail. She was like the old lady who once said she had suffered so much, especially from the troubles that never came.

But one morning the mother came down to breakfast wreathed in smiles. He asked her what had happened, and she told him that in the night she had a dream. She was walking along a highway with a great crowd of people who seemed so tired and burdened. They were nearly all carrying little black bundles, and she noticed that there were numerous repulsive looking beings which she thought were demons dropping these black bundles for the people to pick up and carry.

Like the rest, she too had her needless load, and was weighed down with the devil's bundles. Looking up, after a while, she saw a Man with a bright and loving face, passing hither and thither through the crowd, and comforting the people. At last He came near her, and she saw that it was her Saviour. She looked up and told Him how tired she was, and He smiled sadly and said: "My dear child, I did not give you these loads; you have no need of them. They are the devil's burdens and they are wearing out your life. Just drop them; refuse to touch them with one of your fingers and you will find the path easy and you will be as if borne on eagle's wings."

He touched her hand, and lo, peace and joy thrilled her frame and, flinging down her burden, she was about to throw herself at His feet in joyful thanksgiving, when suddenly she awoke and found that all her cares were gone.

From that day to the close of her life she was the most cheerful and happy member of the household.

An Introduction to Christ..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 An Introduction to Christ

Dr. Charles Stanley

Revelation 1:4-8

The first chapter of Revelation gives a compact description of the Lord. In verses 4 to 8, John condenses the wonder of Jesus Christ to the bare but beautiful essentials of who He is:

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. Jesus came to earth to more fully reveal the character and ways of the Father (John 14:9). The miracles He performed validated His claim to be the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is the first-born from the dead. The Savior bore our sins and died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. His resurrection proved that eternal life is possible for us, too, as Jesus taught in John 11:25: “He who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”

Jesus Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth. It is the Lord who raises men to power, just as it is He who removes them (John 19:11; Rom. 13:1). Meanwhile, believers have access to a higher authority. In God’s throne room, we can beseech Him on behalf of our nations and lay claim to His promises.

Jesus Christ loves us and released us from our sins by His blood. Note the change of tense in John’s writing. The Lord’s love is ever-present, but He has freed believers from their past. Both the penalty and power of sin have been broken.

When people ask you about Jesus, introduce Him by guiding them through this mini-biography. In just a few sentences, John describes Christ’s character, divinity, and authority. The disciple was not timid about proclaiming the Lord. We shouldn’t be shy, either, when we serve so great a Savior.

A Different Kind of Holiday Tradition..... LYNN COWELL

 A Different Kind of Holiday Tradition

LYNN COWELL

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, …” Psalm 68:5-6 (NIV)

My husband, Greg, and I had been looking forward to this day for a really long time. Our daughter had a new friend, one we had heard many good things about, and we couldn’t wait to get to know him.

After Greg rolled out his homemade pizza dough, we sat down to enjoy his hard work as well as learn more about each other.

Wanting to make our guest feel cared for and valued, we showed interest in his life by asking questions to get to know him better. We chatted about hobbies, work and family. When we landed on the topic of holidays, he turned the question on us. “So how do you all celebrate Christmas?” he asked.

Greg, our daughter and I waited and looked at one another for a moment.

Christmas.

For some, this question is easily answered. Their family has traditions they follow year after year. For others, it is more go-with-the-flow, accommodating the schedules of in-laws and sharing meals for days. As we pondered which details to share, my daughter spoke first, “For some, Christmas is only about their family. But for us, you never know who will be at our Christmas dinner. We invite in those who might not have a place to celebrate, asking them to join us.”

My eyes welled with tears as I listened to our girl. I hadn’t really noticed what she had seen as our normal. The way I saw it, inviting someone who needed a family on Christmas day was a natural inclusion for us. But as I look back, I see it has, in fact, become our holiday tradition. Giving a person a home for the holiday brings my heart joy because it seems to line right up with the heart of Father God.

Christmas isn’t naturally a happy holiday for all. I vividly remember that first Christmas without my dad. He died when I was a young woman, and that first year was extra painful, an emptiness filling the room without his quiet presence with us.

In years following Dad’s death, I have found comfort in the words of the psalmist. In Psalm 68, David describes God as, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, …” (Psalm 68:5-6). Our Father is so creative in the way He does just that. For me, He gave me a father in my husband’s dad when I got married. For others, God may provide a new family through neighbors, co-workers or church family and friends to fill the gap of the family they don’t have or cannot be with in this special season.

God shows love, tenderness and kindness, especially toward the helpless and vulnerable who don’t have the love of an earthly family they need. Often, He will use you and me to bring that love, tenderness and kindness when we simply look around for the lonely who need His love.

While we can’t see or touch our heavenly Father, we can still experience the love that comes from Him. A love that is perfect for us and a love that will never, ever leave us. Whether we have an earthly father who we can rely on for love or that love is missing in our lives, you and I can draw on the love our heavenly Father extends to us. We then can, in turn, share that love with others — at Christmas and all year ‘round.

God, thank You that You are a Father who is, and always will be, with me. I’m so very grateful for Your love. I really need You in my life. Open my eyes to see the one who also needs Your love this holiday season. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 103:13, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” (NIV)

Isaiah 64:8, “Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (NIV)

How to Recognize Spiritual Weeds in Your Life..... By Bobbie Schaeperkoetter

 How to Recognize Spiritual Weeds in Your Life

By Bobbie Schaeperkoetter

Reaching my hand into the dark soil, I could feel that the roots had gotten deep. I had to put my weight into the pull to unearth something I had spent weeks tending. I felt a little discouraged; I’d invested my time and attention into something that had proved to be working against the growth I was seeking the whole time. I also felt a little frustrated that I’d been so easily deceived.

You see, for weeks I had been painstakingly watering and weeding a little plot of dirt along the side of my home. The year before it had been a vibrant little garden filled with strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon, and cantaloupe.

The strawberries come back every year, but the other plants weren’t ones that I expected to see come back. However, three hearty sprouts had pushed up through the dormant soil. I didn’t recognize the new growth and assumed it was something returning from the previous year. I’m a novice gardener at best, so I devotedly gave these budding starts priority. They thrived and quickly grew tall and strong.

When Spiritual Weeds Take Root in Our Lives

Pulling out that weed and the others like it caused a slew of thoughts to start circulating around my mind. As Christians, how many weeds have taken root in our lives? How many things have we poured our time and attention into that are choking out the Spiritual fruit we are trying to grow? How can we tell the difference between a weed and fruit when it is so easy to mistake one for the other? Am I watering weeds?

How to Recognize a Spiritual Weed vs. Fruit

Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let is also keep in step with the Spirit.”

These verses set the standard. If what we are investing our time and energy into isn’t growing those types of fruit, we need to look closely to be sure it isn’t a weed. If it is a weed, we have to be willing to reach down into the dirt and uproot it before it grows and starts choking out the fruit we are working so hard to grow.

Can you see examples of that going on in your own life? I hate to admit it, but I know that I can see it in my life without having to look very hard at all.

For me, it’s social media. Being engaged in social media is a part of my job, but I can easily spend way too much time and energy engrossed in my news feed. That is time and energy that would be much better spent doing the work that God has given me to do or loving and serving the people he has placed in my life.

Whatever You Water Will Grow

Just like the weeds that I meticulously watered began to choke out the fruit in my garden, the weeds we care for can begin to choke out the fruit that we want to grow in our lives. I had let some weeds grow in my garden and in my life that needed to be effectively dealt with.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have some weeding and watering that I need to do. Would you like to join me?

Keep My Running Shoes On..... By Nichole Huggins

 Keep My Running Shoes On

By Nichole Huggins

I love to walk around my house barefoot. I like the feeling of soft carpet on my toes and feel more “at home” without the restriction of wearing shoes. But more and more it seems that I forgo this comfort for the functionality of keeping my running shoes on.

You see, our home is different than many people’s homes. Because our son has autism, our home is louder; he is always singing, making noises, or quoting movies (in the world of autism it’s called “scripting”). Our house is in interesting order; you will find trains lined up on the kitchen table and strategically placed books open to strategically chosen pages. Currently our back door is always open. Our son loves to run outside and play, but it is also his current belief that the back door should remain open at all times—even if he is playing in a different part of the house. Living in this world of autism has caused our home to be a sometimes chaotic, but always beautiful haven for our family. And for now, living in the world of autism has caused me to keep my running shoes on.

For many, running and autism go hand in hand. People who are “on the spectrum” are often runners. Our kiddo is no exception to this pattern. Although he frequently overcomes his urge to run, our son’s current impulsivity requires me to jump up and move quickly at any moment. I have to be ready, so I keep my running shoes on.

I love how the Lord uses my son’s autism to gently sharpen me in my personal relationship with Him. The Lord has recently reminded me that just as I have to keep my running shoes on, the same applies in my walk with the Lord. I need to keep my spiritual running shoes on.

In 1 Peter 3:15, the Bible reminds us to sanctify our hearts and “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…” We need to keep our spiritual running shoes on! It is easy for us to slip our shoes off and run our toes through the carpet of comfortability in life, but that is not the calling of Christians. Life was never meant to be about our comfort, but rather exalting our Creator.

It’s my prayer that people around me will be able to see that my hope is in Christ. May I be quick to help and show love to others. May I be a reflection of Christ in all that I say and do. I pray that I am sharp and “ready to run” this great race called life. Sometimes it’s easy to let our spiritual shoelaces come untied. We become comfortable Christians, and it’s easy for us to get tripped up. I am thankful the Lord can use my precious son to remind me that I need to lace up my spiritual running shoes and be prepared for this sometimes chaotic, but always beautiful life. So, what condition are your running shoes in?

1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)— “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…”

Intersecting Faith & Life: As you think of needing to be ready to respond at any moment, whether to a crisis or an opportunity to share your faith, that means being prepared spiritually, spending time with God so that reflecting His love comes naturally. Whether it’s explaining to the guy in the grocery line behind you why you helped cover the cost of the single mom’s bill in front of you, or showing patience and love to that same single mom when you are in a hurry yourself, these things don’t come naturally. Share with God the areas where you find it hard be ready and ask Him to equip you. Then rest in His constant presence, knowing that His Spirit living in you is always at the ready.

Further reading:

2 Timothy 4:2
1 Peter 5:8
1 Corinthians 9:24
Hebrews 12:1
Ezekiel 38:7

A Prayer to Put Jesus First this Christmas Season..... By Debbie McDaniel

 A Prayer to Put Jesus First this Christmas Season

By Debbie McDaniel

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:7

No room for them. No vacancy. No place. Words that still seem to hang close, even today.

In a world that seeks to crowd Jesus out, where busyness abounds, and hearts are stirred to focus on other things, it can be hard sometimes to choose to keep Him first. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the whole hurried dash of the holidays, and to give our attention to what seems more urgent. Our focus gets blurred; and the most important gets pushed aside.

It takes an active and daily choice to put Christ first, especially in a culture that says you’re too busy to focus there. Or that life is too full. And there’s no more room.

May God help us to choose wisely, what voices we listen to, and where we give our attention today.

He is the One who brings true meaning to Christmas.

He is the One who brings real peace in this all-too-often hectic season.

He is the only One worthy of our time and attention as we slow down the maddening rush around our lives.

We can know all of this in our heads, but may He help us to really believe it in our hearts... and choose to live it out this season.

Renewed.

Refreshed.

Making room for Him, first.

Dear God,

Help us to keep our focus first on Christ this season. Please forgive us for giving too much time and attention on other things. Help us to reflect again, on what Christmas is really all about. Thank you that you came to give new life, peace, hope, and joy. Thank you that your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to remember that the gift of Christ, Immanuel, is our greatest treasure, not just at Christmas, but for the whole year through. Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. For you never leave us. Thank you for your daily powerful Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favor as with a shield, and we are safe in your care. We choose to press in close to you today… and keep you first in our hearts and lives.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Making a List… Checking it Twice..... Mary Southerland

 Making a List… Checking it Twice

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope - (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).

Friend to Friend
Every year, I make a Christmas list comprised of every person for whom I am buying a gift.  Beside each name, I put a dollar amount, a limit of how much money I will spend for that gift, vowing not to spend one penny more than the set limit. (Somehow, the amount I actually spend rarely coincides with the amount I intended to spend. Can you relate?) With every purchase, I then draw a beautiful red line through that name. Done!

I carry that list everywhere I go because sometimes I find a gift during a random shopping trip but mainly because I can’t afford to let it out of my sight. There are evil people lurking in my home who will go to any lengths to find that list. You see, I am the Queen of Surprise when it comes to Christmas, so I must guard my list with my life in order to keep my “Queen-ship” status secure. Consequently, the list is hidden in various and unusual places such as a random file on my computer, in my closet, in an old purse, in a sock drawer, in a flower pot – you get the picture. I know where that Christmas list is at all times because it is my gift-giving plan for the holidays. 

I wish I were just as concerned about "God's list" for my life; carrying His life plan for me in my heart and mind as I live each day, constantly making choices and decisions in light of that list, guarding it like the treasure map of eternity that it truly is. Just knowing the plan God has for me does not guarantee success. I must do the plan. That is where the choice to obey comes in. An obedient heart is a “fixed” heart and may very well be the gift God wants from us this holiday season.

Psalm 108:1
“O God, my heart is fixed!”

Psalm 40:8
“I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart.”

A “fixed” heart is a determined heart, a steadfast heart that is rightly focused on God and His will, His plan. When we choose to follow God’s plan, the desires of our heart will line up in obedience to that plan. We will find our greatest joy in pleasing God, in doing His will because that is what we were created to do.

Maybe today is a good time to stop, go back over the list, review those life lessons we have learned, checking to see where we really are in our walk with God. Maybe today is the perfect time to revisit the manger to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by giving Him the gift of obedience. 

Let’s Pray
Father, I love You. Forgive me for the times when I choose to follow my own will instead of Yours. Teach me how to fix my heart on You and give me the strength to do what You created me to do. I know Your plan is the highest and best plan for me and that I was created in response to that plan. Thank You for the purpose that doing Your will brings to my life. Today, I choose to seek You and obey Your Word.
In Jesus’s name, amen.