Streams in the Desert.....

 Streams in the Desert

"The Lord’s angelic messenger came back again, touched him, and said, 'Get up and eat, for otherwise you won’t be able to make the journey.'”—1 Kgs 19:7

And what did God do with His tired servant? Gave him something good to eat, and put him to sleep. Elijah had done splendid work, and had run alongside of the chariot in his excitement, and it had been too much for his physical strength, and the reaction had come on, and he was depressed. The physical needed to be cared for. What many people want is sleep, and the physical ailment attended to. There are grand men and women who get where Elijah was—under the juniper tree! and it comes very soothingly to such to hear the words of the Master: “The journey is too great for thee, and I am going to refresh you.” Let us not confound physical weariness with spiritual weakness.

“I’m too tired to trust and too tired to pray,
Said one, as the over-taxed strength gave way.
The one conscious thought by my mind possessed,
Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest.

“Will God forgive me, do you suppose,
If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,
Without an asking if I may,
Without ever trying to trust and pray?

Will God forgive you? why think, dear heart,
When language to you was an unknown art,
Did a mother deny you needed rest,
Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?

“Did she let you want when you could not ask?
Did she set her child an unequal task?
Or did she cradle you in her arms,
And then guard your slumber against alarms?

“Ah, how quick was her mother love to see,
The unconscious yearnings of infancy.
When you’ve grown too tired to trust and pray,
When over-wrought nature has quite given way:

“Then just drop it all, and give up to rest,
As you used to do on a mother’s breast,
He knows all about it—the dear Lord knows,
So just go to sleep as a baby goes;

“Without even asking if you may,
God knows when His child is too tired to pray.
He judges not solely by uttered prayer,
He knows when the yearnings of love are there.

“He knows you do pray, He knows you do trust,
And He knows, too, the limits’ of poor weak dust.
Oh, the wonderful sympathy of Christ,
For His chosen ones in that midnight tryst,

“When He bade them sleep and take their rest,
While on Him the guilt of the whole world pressed—
You’ve given your life up to Him to keep,
Then don’t be afraid to go right to sleep.”

Our Prince of Peace..... Dr. Charles Stanley

 Our Prince of Peace

Dr. Charles Stanley

Isaiah 9:6

The Christmas rush is here. There are plans to make, gifts to buy, and parties to attend. Sometimes these activities leave us exhausted and cranky—instead of peace and joy, we may feel inner churning because there’s too much to do. Or perhaps this time of the year brings nothing but sad memories and loneliness. Unrealistic expectations and conflicts with loved ones often leave us depressed and discouraged.

How can Jesus be our Prince of Peace when our expectations and traditions fight against the tranquility we desire? To understand why Jesus was given this title, we must first understand what it means. First of all, God’s Son did not come to do away with all conflicts—not yet, anyway. One day He will return to earth and rule as King in an environment of external harmony, but that was not the purpose of His first coming. So while we’re on earth, we’ll have trouble (John 16:33).

When Christ left heaven to become a human baby, His goal was to bring us peace with God by reconciling us to the Father. His death on the cross paid our sin debt in full, and our relationship with God is restored. Now He offers us divine peace—an inner serenity that fills our hearts and minds no matter what is going on in our circumstances.

Is your life characterized by a quiet assurance that guards your heart and mind all day long (Phil. 4:6-7), or have stressful circumstances left you feeling depressed or agitated? Try setting aside time each day to fix your eyes upon Jesus. Then let Him heal your heart and calm your spirit.

The Unexpected Gift of Christmas..... LAURA BAILEY

 The Unexpected Gift of Christmas

LAURA BAILEY

“They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”’” Matthew 2:5-6 (NASB)

“Are you serious? Who doesn’t like Christmas?” asked my incredulous husband, the man who sings Christmas carols in his sleep the day after Thanksgiving.

My brain was already in overdrive, thinking about everything I needed to accomplish over the holidays. “I never said I didn’t like Christmas,” I replied. “It just isn't my favorite time of year; there's too much pressure involved.”

Like most all other celebrations, my anticipation is far more exciting than the reality. I play out scenarios of the event in my mind, imagining the best possible outcome, and get myself completely “psyched” up.

Then, when the event takes place, I’m usually disappointed because instead of finding joy at the moment, I critique and compare it to the preconceived notion I had in my head, and rarely do they match up. Christmastime only exacerbates the situation, bringing out the worst in me.

Last year I asked the Lord to help me find true enjoyment in the Christmas season. I vowed to soak in this magical time with my girls, to relish friends and family with whom we celebrate and to thank God for giving us the greatest gift ever, His only Son, Jesus.

As I read the familiar passages of Scripture telling of Jesus’ birth, I let my mind linger on the verses of Matthew 2:5-6: “They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”’”

The Son of God was born in a stable, probably surrounded by livestock, to parents who had no distinct social standing. No wonder the Jews found it difficult to believe He was the Messiah, the One sent to save them. They had suffered much and looked for a powerful and mighty leader who would deliver them from Roman oppression.

Born in a stable, a carpenter’s son, a friend of fishermen, tax collectors and prostitutes — He seemed in no way royal. Jewish leaders rejected Him and demanded He be crucified as the ultimate imposter, “the King of the Jews.”

Jesus did not rule from a throne in a royal palace surrounded by servants, guards and opulence. On the contrary, Christ came to serve, seek and save, but for reasons and in a manner far beyond anything many Jews ever imagined or understood. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and only Jesus, the Lamb of God, can deliver humanity by paying our sin debt through the shedding of His blood.

The Jewish people missed out on the greatest gift ever because they expected a particular king but were given another.

But, wait, isn’t that what I do every time the holidays don’t go the way I planned? Don’t I fall apart when the gift I meticulously selected is not well received? Don’t I allow a relative’s remarks to steal my Christmas cheer? Don’t I focus more on the “what” of Christmas than the Who?

Don’t miss celebrating the real meaning of Christmas because you’re blinded by the bright lights of the holidays or, like me, so wrapped up in the worldly demands of the season that you ignore the heavenly miracle of Christ’s birth.

My sincere hope is that you find joy, hope and peace this holiday season in God's redemption plan — that gift which lay in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. Reread the Christmas story, and let the significance of that seemingly insignificant event penetrate your heart and fill your spirit with the joy that lasts for all eternity.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your precious Son and giving us the gift of eternal life. Guide us in our thoughts. May we spend our time and energy focusing on the real meaning of Christmas. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (NIV)

1 John 5:11, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (NIV)

What Does “Noel” Mean?..... By Meg Bucher

 What Does “Noel” Mean?

By Meg Bucher

Noel, another word for Christmas, reminds us to stop and sing of the hope we have in Jesus. Noël, the French word for Christmas, came from the Latin word natalis, meaning “birth.”

A “Christmas Cactus" only blooms during the Christmas season. I forget to water it most of the winter, re-pot it in the spring, and continue to forget about it. But my plant continues to survive beyond my ability to care for it. Annually, the first week of Advent (Christmas), it begins to flower. It’s in a pot of fairly dry dirt… on my desk… in Northern Ohio… and it’s a cactus. Yet God says, “it’s time.”

Noel is a birthday! We define time as an appointed, fixed, or customary moment or hour for something to happen, begin, or end. (Merriam-Webster)Behind every human being is a baby in a womb whose life began to God’s whisper, “it’s time.” We can trust the Author of Life, and the proof is Jesus. In the town of David, God said, “it’s time,” and born was the Savior of the world. Jesus, born to hold, nurture, and love us; came to us as a vulnerable baby boy who needed to be held, nurtured and loved.

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.  He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” - John 1:10-13

Each morning, I faithfully clean and prepare my glasses for the day with special cloth and spray. It’s worth it to me. I appreciate the view. Guess what? They’re shatterproof, too. My vision is protected.

When Zechariah lost his ability to see God clearly, his speech left with it. He doubted the vision he saw. He questioned the message. At his son’s birth, his speech returned. Jesus restored our hope with His. Might something we were previously unaware of be blocking Him from our vision?

The b-side of birth lies beyond God’s creation of our physicality. He built the possibility of hope into our DNA. A gift of grace allowed by the sacrifice of the baby boy born in the town of David. The opportunity to break free and follow Him home. The power of purpose as our feet tread the dirt of this Earth. When Christ is our personal Savior, the silence is lifted and our vision realigned… like getting new pair of shatterproof glasses. In a fresh hug of friendship defined, we are born… again. Believe. See…

“Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel… born is the King of Israel.”

“Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel… born is the King of Israel.”

-The First Noel Christmas Carol

Take time to sing in celebration! Jesus was born to save us. It’s not just any birthday celebration. Christmas is the love of the Father and peace of the Son that transcends the encapsulation of time. Birth is the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent (Merriam-Webster.) God said, “it’s time,” and like the wind blows when He says and the seas calm at His hand, Heaven came to earth embodied in His Son. We not only get to partake in this love story …we are the center of it. Can you see it? Noel! It’s time.

When the Fog Settles In..... by Sarah Phillips

 When the Fog Settles In

by Sarah Phillips

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4

One of my favorite scenes in children's literature can be found in one of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, The Horse and His Boy.

It occurs well into the story, when the main character -- an orphaned boy named Shasta - has endured many battles and adventures with his talking horse companion by his side. Now he arrives at a part in the journey where he must travel alone in order to warn a neighboring kingdom of impending attack. As he travels in the wilderness, fog settles in.

As the fog thickens into opaque clouds, Shasta suddenly senses another presence walking beside him. Heavy breathing, large paws...a lion is within inches of him and his common horse. Paralyzed with terror, the boy rides on for quite some time, awaiting his tragic end. Finally, the wait becomes too agonizing, and he cries out to the presence, demanding to know who it is and why he's there. What follows is a beautiful conversation between Shasta and King Aslan - who has been anxious to speak with him for some time.

But it doesn't end there. As Shasta reaches Archenland, he is able to complete his mission, and the reader sighs in relief. But when he looks back at the path he traveled, he is stunned to see what the fog concealed - a narrow and treacherous mountain pass with deadly cliffs on one side. Only then does it become clear to Shasta and the reader that Aslan's presence and encouraging words quite literally saved Shasta's life.

I may be young, but I know this journey. I know what it's like to look down a winding path that seems to stretch endlessly into murkiness. I know what it's like to feel alone, afraid, and confused and you probably do too. You question if you'll have the endurance to see the trial through, to make it to your destination.

We obviously don't have a Narnian lion to converse with and walk beside us when life gets tough (wouldn't that be nice?). But God does walk with us and speak to us in the real world, even when the road feels lonely and frightening.

In this Advent reading, we see God gave us His Word as a source of hope and encouragement. He has not left us alone here, blind and fumbling through the fog. He has words of wisdom He is anxious to share with you.

God also reveals his steadfast and encouraging nature through fellow believers. The second part of the verse above reads: "May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus" (v. 5). I can't count the times I have received invaluable support during a difficult stretch from another believer's wisdom or love.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Even when we feel alone, we aren't. If you're struggling, make time to find God in His Word and in the fellowship of other believers. If you're joyful, what ways can you reach out to someone who is going through a trial this holiday season?

Further Reading

Exodus 34:6
Hebrews 10:36

A Prayer for Healing this Christmas Season..... By Debbie McDaniel

 A Prayer for Healing this Christmas Season

By Debbie McDaniel

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them, he rescued them from the grave.” Psalm 107:19-20

The Christmas season is always the time of year filled with so much joy and hope, a spirit of giving, and celebrations with family and friends. Yet that may also be the very reason why those suffering deep heartache, loss, illness, or struggle during this season, may feel the weight of their burdens even more deeply. Maybe many feel alone. Or forgotten. Maybe some wonder why God isn’t answering their prayers, or why his answers seem so long in coming. If you find yourself there right now, or are praying for a loved one through a difficult time, take heart in this word from Psalms:

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent forth his word and healed them, he rescued them from the grave.” Psalm 107:19-20

We have a place we can go to. We can cry out to God and be assured He does hear. And He cares.

God saves. He did then, and He does still.

He sent forth his word and healed them. And God never changes.

He rescued them. And He rescues us today.

Through Christ alone, we can find true healing – from physical illness and pain, from past wounds and difficult memories, from the heartache of deep loss, from addiction, despair, and even in the relationships that have been broken.

God already knows of the wounds we've carried. He knows the pain we've felt. He knows how much we've tried to let go, and fix things in our own power. Let's set aside our fears and move towards Him today, in faith.

For He is able.

He is powerful.

He cares.

He heals.

He restores.

He redeems.

Dear God,

You already know the pain we’ve carried, the deep wounds, the feelings of loss and heartache. You know how we’ve so often lost hope. Wondering if we’ll ever be truly free from this burden. It feels too great some days. We desperately need your healing and grace. We need your peace and our hope restored. We need to be reminded that you work on behalf of those you love, constantly, powerfully, and completely. Forgive us for trying to fix our situations all on our own. Forgive us for running in different directions and spinning our wheels to find help, when true help and healing must be found first in You. Forgive us for forgetting how much we need you, above everyone and everything else. We come to you and bring you the places we are hurting. You see where no one else can fully see or understand. You know all the places where we need to be set free, even those we’re not aware of. We ask for your healing and grace to cover every broken place. Every wound. Every heartache. Thank you that you are able to do far more than we could ever imagine. Thank you for your mighty power that acts on behalf of your children. We reach out to you, and know that you are restoring and redeeming every place of difficulty, every battle, for your greater glory. Thank you that you will never waste our pain and suffering. We love you. We need you today.

In Jesus’ Name, 

Amen.

When Your Heart Grows Three Sizes..... by Jim Liebelt

 When Your Heart Grows Three Sizes

This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

In Dr. Seuss's classic Christmas tale, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch suffers from having a small heart. The source of his heart problem is his lack of understanding the meaning of Christmas. As the story goes, the Grinch tries to put a stop to Christmas, but in the end, he comes to understand what Christmas is all about and his heart grows three sizes! This heart change makes a big difference in his life.

I'm not sure what Dr. Seuss' intentions were when he wrote the story back in 1957, but it certainly comes across as a Christian parable to me that parallels the change that takes place in a person's life when he or she comes to understand the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus, God's Son, who was born to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). When the light of the Good News of Jesus dawns upon the heart of a person, God replaces the old heart of stone, with a new, fleshy heart - and a new person emerges. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

"Welcome Christmas - While we stand - Heart to heart - And hand in hand." It might just make all the difference in the world.

Holy Child of Bethlehem, 
Descend to us, we pray; 
Cast out our sin and enter in; 
Be born in us today!

We hear the Christmas angels 
The great glad tidings tell; 
O come to us, abide with us, 
Our Lord Emmanuel! 
(from O Little Town of Bethlehem)

We celebrate Christmas because of the power Jesus brought to change our hearts.

Going Deeper: 

1. Give an example of a time when you changed your mind about something. 
2. How did the words or actions of others influence your change of heart? 
3. Towards the end of the story "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," what happened that caused the Grinch to change his mind about Christmas? What lessons might we learn from the story? 
4. How has understanding the true meaning of Christmas made a difference in your life?

Family Time: Gather your family together and watch the classic half-hour Christmas cartoon, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Then, using the content above, lead your family in a discussion about how Jesus has the power to change our hearts.