Anticipating Christmas All Year Long

With anticipation
The people waited years
To realize the Promise told
Through many griefs and fears.

Once it was shouted through
The dirty, cobbled streets.
But, then as life and wars increased,
It’s strains of Hope began to cease.
Silenced by life’s grief and pain,
The hope of a Deliverer seemed in vain.
Four Hundred years without a Word.
It seemed the Promise was absurd.

Pain and poverty paralyzed.
The joy and luster left their eyes.
Would the Savior really come
Restore the Kingdom like
David had done?
Was this perhaps just another dream
Or manipulation—a government’s scheme?

Silently, pushed ahead
By a pregnant wife,
Joseph knew what the Angel said.
But, would Mary give birth on the city street?
The world was settling in to sleep.
”A stable out behind the Inn.
Go out there, I’ll let you in.”

The Promise crept in on baby’s feet
As the whole world lay fast asleep!
The King did come that very night
Rescuing man from evil’s plight.

Angels, shepherds and little sheep
All bowed amazed at Jesus’ feet.
The Promised Deliverer really came
And Nothing has Ever been the same.

He will come again, just as He said,
While once again we wait.
But never fear, dear Child,
Our God is never late.

By Darla J. Short-Lewis
Christmas, 2022

God Is For Us

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31"

Wow, did you read that, do you understand the magnitude of those words? Creator God, who sprinkled the stars in the sky like millions of diamonds on a black velvet background . . . who set the sun, moon and planets into motion . . . then keeps them all from colliding into each other . . . God thinks of you

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” Psalms 139:18

And what can we say to that? Oh yeah, how about the ocean whose waves both gently lap onto a beach or roar with white foam—frothing and churning during a storm. It is the Lord that keeps it from overtaking the earth and He does that for you! God proves His devotion to us in many different ways but three specific ones make me fall on my knees in praise and thanksgiving.

The first: Father God took dust, formed it and breathed life into it

“Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Genesis 2:7

I imagine He did it gently, tenderly sculpting the eyes and forming the ears. Did He blow hard filling the lungs or more like a gentle kiss, Father to child?

The second: He stepped off His throne in heaven, leaving His glory behind—forsaking His power and strength—and came into this world as a baby.

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12

He grew into a man—living among the very creation He had made—in order to reconcile us back to Himself. He allowed himself to be beaten and humiliated, and then nails were hammered into His hands and feet onto a cross.

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:6 & 7

Does that sound like a God who is indifferent to us?

And the third way: victoriously He conquered sin and death.

“They will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again." Luke 18:33

He trampled the chains that separated us from Him, removing the stain of our iniquities to see them no more!

Again I ask, are these the actions of some far off, impersonal, uncaring God? No. If God is for us who can be against us? Nothing, no one, not ever! If you think you have nothing to be thankful for, remember this: God loves you . . . He is for you . . . and He has gone to great lengths to prove it!

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13

By Eve Montano

Spiritual Reset

“. . . I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12b

Have you ever wanted to just hit reset on your day? Go back and right a harsh word or action? The past few days have been trying, a test of faith and trusting in God in spite of the bumps in the road I didn’t expect. But God’s word always soothes me. I turn to a favorite Psalm or verse and I can feel the tension ease out of my neck and shoulders.

A sigh escaped my lips when I read this:

The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true they are righteous altogether. Psalm 19:7 – 9

Sometimes all I can do is read and reread verses like this until the fear is gone and I'm reminded that I'm His. These words are promises from God that He can be counted on. He speaks to us through His Word and, unlike the empty promises of politicians or misleading rhetoric of self interest groups, Gods Word and character are Yes and Amen.

For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes, therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Every time I open my Bible I’m hitting my reset button. God’s word restores what my day has depleted. When I read it first thing in the morning His word prepares me for my day. Whenever I read it, I am always reminded of His love and devotion to me.

Hit reset today. Spend time with Jesus Christ through His Word and through prayer.

They are more desirable than gold, yes much fine gold, sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Psalm 19:10

Who Touched Me?

“As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, ‘Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.’ When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of Him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. ‘Daughter,’ He said, ‘your faith has made you well. Go in Peace.” Luke 8:42b-48

According to Leviticus 12, a woman with an issue of blood was considered ceremonially unclean for a set period of time until the bleeding stopped. She was then to bring an offering to the temple to complete her purification. In Leviticus 15 there is further clarification of what—and who—was considered ceremonially unclean. Anyone who touched her . . . anything she sat on or lay down on . . . anyone who touched what she had touched. There were prescribed steps for being cleansed, purified, and once again declared clean.

“This is how you will guard the people of Israel from ceremonial uncleanness. Otherwise they would die, for their impurity would defile my Tabernacle that stands among them.” Leviticus 15:31

Unclean. Isolated. Unwelcome to worship at the Temple. For the woman whose story appears in Luke 8, this had been her lot in life for twelve years. Over that time she had spent all she had trying to find healing and—presumably—restoration within her community. How desperate she must have been that day in a village on the shores of the Galilee. So desperate she would risk being in a crowd. So desperate she would risk touching the One who was her only hope.

“What ifs” could have slowed her down. What if the crowd reviles her? What if “they” keep her from Him? What if He, too, rejects her? What if she exposed her need and nothing happened?

Can you sense her desperation? Have you experienced a need that has resulted in your feeling depressed? Isolated? Longing for answers to prayer, yet seemingly hearing only silence—further isolating you? Have you found it easier to remain alone in the dark rather than making the effort to enter the light?

Jesus isn’t turned away by your touch . . . your need . . . your prayers. A little over 2,000 years ago today this was His passion week. He had entered Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of “Hosanna.” He cleansed the temple, He continued to teach and heal. He continued His ministry right up until the day he was betrayed. The shouts of Hosanna were forgotten, replaced by the ugly call to “crucify Him.”

This year Passover and Good Friday are on the same day. The Gregorian and Hebrew calendars coincide. The Passover Lamb was sacrificed at the Temple. Our Passover Lamb was hung on a cross. His blood was shed to atone for our sins. By the blood of God’s Lamb we are no longer untouchable, outcast, alone.

May God refresh you, heal your greatest need, and restore you to fulness of life..

The Love of God (by Marty Goetz)

“The Love of God, the Love of God
Can you see on that tree, the Love of God?

The Love of God, the Love of God
There for you, there for me, the Love of God.

He bleeds for you, He pleads for you who are needy
To let Him be
The Love of God
The Love of God
Can you see on that tree, the Love of God?

He gave all for you
Hear Him call to you who are weary
”Come to Me….”
The Love of God . . .

He gave all for you
Hear Him call to you who are weary
”Come to Me . . .”

The Love of God, the Love of God
Can you see on that tree the Love of God
There for you, there for me
The Love of God
Here for you, here for me, here for free

Jesus He’s the Love of God . . .”

By Marilyn Allison

Trust and Trusting

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

Yesterday during my quiet time, the writer of the devotional I was reading suggested that I should fall on my face and worship Jesus, my Lord. I don’t know how long I lay there. I don’t remember everything I thought or said, but I do remember quieting my heart and listening for His voice. After a moment or two—where I didn’t hear a thing—I got up, picked up my pen and journal and started to write. The following poured out.

You are reading the edited version as some things were for my heart alone. But I know I can share this. Trusting God isn’t always easy but we must—I must—always trust because with the world against us, the enemy trying to tear us down, take our children's innocence and have them believe lies—there has never been a time before where trusting God is as essential as breathing.

Trust in You
Trusting You
Trust where You lead me
Trusting with each step
Trust when I doubt
Trusting in the unknown
Trust when I’m sure
Trusting You are there

Trust in You
Trusting You
Trust despite my 'feelings'
Trusting in what I know
Trust when it makes no sense
Trusting Your Word made flesh
Trust when I am confident
Trusting when I am afraid

Trust in You
Trusting You
Trusting Your Word is clear
Trust when silence reigns
Trusting in the darkness,
Trust Your Light will shine
Trusting when I don't understand
Trust when all is well
Trusting You—awake or asleep

Trust in You
Trusting You
Trusting there's always hope
Trust when all turn away
Trusting when sadness overwhelms
Trust You when I’m alone
Trusting You're here to stay
Trust in anger and pain
Trusting letting peace invade

Trust in you
Trusting You
Trust the Truth that never fades
Trusting God with all my heart.

By Eve Montano