Daily Thoughts

Uplifting Daily Christian Thoughts

Tuesday, December 12

Daily Bible Reading

Double click on the verses to read the verses online. In the new window, click on the speaker icon to listen to the verses.

Old Testament: Esther 1:1 - 2:18

New Testament Revelation 2:18 - 3:6

Psalms/Proverbs Psalm 140:6-13

Based on NIV Seasons of Reflection 365-Day Bible

Messages referring to the Bible Reading:

ESTHER: A QUEEN UNDER CONTROL
A PAIR OF QUEENS
THYATIRA: THE WORLDLY CHURCH
THE CHURCH OF THE ZOMBIES
ARE YOU WEARING YOUR HELMET?


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Will the Christ Child Come?

One Christmas we had an interesting experience that made me think deeply about the true meaning of Christmas.

Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized the 12 day of Christmas were beginning!! We waited excitedly for the next night's surprise and only then realized that the lamb was part of a nativity set.

Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive. Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowly built the scene at the manager and began to focus on Christ's birth.

On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, except the baby Jesus! My twelve year old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate his dinner in the mini-van watching and waiting, but no one came.

Finally, we called him in to go through our family's Christmas Eve traditions. But before the kids went to bed we checked the front step--No Baby Jesus! We began to worry that Reed had scared them off. My husband teased me that maybe they dropped the Jesus and that there wouldn't be anything coming. Everyone went to bed and I put out Christmas, but before I went to bed I again checked to see if Jesus had come.

In our family, the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents till Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I got up to watch them. Even before the stockings were opened, we had checked to see if perhaps during the night the Baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. It changed my focus anyway. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child.

We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children handed me a small package a friend had given me. This sister and I had been partners in visiting church members. I had learned over time that their family didn't have much extra for Christmas so their focus was on their five children. It sounded like she didn't get much to open, so I had always given her a small package--new dish towels, a church book--not much, but something to unwrap on Christmas. This year I was touched when she had given me this small package at church on Christmas Eve day, saying it was just a small token of her love and appreciation.

As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in giving me a gift this year. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the baby Jesus. He had come!

I realized that Christmas that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don't expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one other. We had waited and watched for Him to come, expecting the dramatic "knock at the door and scurrying of feet," but He came in a small, simple package that represented service, friendship, and love.

Each year as I put out this creche, I am reminded of the lessons I learned through that wonderful Christmas gift.

The experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. I discovered we will most likely find him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other. This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that, I want to open my heart to Him all year that I may be with Him one day.

By Gaye Jones Willis, Juneau, Alaska
mailto:Gjwillis@aol.com
From http://www.witandwisdom.org
Used with permission


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Do You Love Me?

One day, I woke early in the morning to watch the sunrise.
Ah the beauty of God’s creation is beyond description.
As I watched, I praised God for His beautiful work.
As I sat there, I felt the Lord’s presence with me.
He asked me,
“Do you love me?”

I answered,
“Of course, God! You are my Lord and Saviour!”

Then He asked,
“If you were physically handicapped, would you still love me?”

I was perplexed.
I looked down upon my arms, legs and the rest of my body
and wondered how many things I wouldn’t be able to do,
The things that I took for granted.
And I answered, “It would be tough Lord, but I would still love You.”

Then the Lord said,
“If you were blind, would you still love my creation?”

How could I love something without being able to see it?
Then I thought of all the blind people in the world and
how many of them still loved God and His creation.
So I answered, “Its hard to think of it, but I would still love you.”

The Lord then asked me,
“If you were deaf, would you still listen to my word?”

How could I listen to anything being deaf? then I understood.
Listening to God’s Word is not merely using our ears, but our hearts. I answered,
“It would be tough, but I would still listen to Your word.”

The Lord then asked,
“If you were mute, would you still praise My Name?”
How could I praise without a voice?
Then it occurred to me:
God wants us to sing from our very heart and soul.
It never matters what we sound like.
And praising God is not always with a song,
but when we are persecuted, we give God praise with our words of thanks.
So I answered,
“Though I could not physically sing, I would still praise Your Name.
And the Lord asked,
“Do you really love Me?”
With courage and a strong conviction, I answered boldly,
“Yes Lord! I love You because You are the one and true God!”

I thought I had answered well, but God asked,
“THEN WHY DO YOU SIN?”
I answered, “Because I am only human. I am not perfect.”
“THEN WHY IN TIMES OF PEACE DO YOU STRAY THE FURTHEST?
WHY ONLY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE DO YOU PRAY THE EARNEST?”
No answers. Only tears.
The Lord continued:
“Why only sing at fellowships and retreats?
Why seek Me only in times of worship?
Why ask things so selfishly? Why ask things so unfaithfully?”

The tears continued to roll down my cheeks.

“Why are you ashamed of Me?
Why are you not spreading the good news?
Why in times of persecution, you cry to others when I offer My shoulder to cry on?
Why make excuses when I give you opportunities to serve in My Name?”
I tried to answer, but there was no answer to give.

“You are blessed with life. I made you not to throw this gift away.
I have blessed you with talents to serve Me, but you continue to turn away.
I have revealed My Word to you, but you do not gain in knowledge.
I have spoken to you but your ears were closed.
I have shown My blessings to you, but your eyes were turned away.
I have sent you servants, but you sat idly by as they were pushed away.
I have heard your prayers and I have answered them all.”
“DO YOU TRULY LOVE ME ?”

I could not answer. How could I? I was embarrassed beyond belief.
I had no excuse. What could I say to this?
When the tears had flowed, I said,
“ Please forgive me Lord. I am unworthy to be Your child.”
The Lord answered,
“ That is My Grace, My child.”
I asked, “ Then why do you continue to forgive me? Why do You love me so?”

The Lord answered,
“ Because you are My creation. You are my child. I will never abandon you.
When you cry, I will have compassion and cry with you.
When you shout with joy, I will laugh with you.
When you are down, I will encourage you.
When you fall, I will raise you up.
When you are tired, I will carry you.
I will be with you till the end of days, and I will love you forever.”

Never had I cried so hard before.
How could I have been so cold?
How could I have hurt God as I had done?
I asked God, “How much do You love me?”

The Lord stretched out His arms, and I saw His nail-pierced hands.
I bowed down at the feet of Christ, my Saviour.
And for the first time, I truly prayed.

Author Unknown


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