PSALM 55 (NIV)
1 Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; 2 hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught 3 at the voice of the enemy, at the
stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in
their anger. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail
me. 5 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said,
"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest- 7 I would
flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah 8 I would hurry to my place of
shelter, far from the tempest and storm."

A PSALM of David as he reflects upon the things which are about to happen, have
happened, and that which is happening. He is grieved, afraid, and fearful of
life. He is calling out to God in prayer looking for peace, for rest, for
strength, for knowledge life will be ok. He wishes he could be a dove and fly
away to a shelter far away from the storm pursuing him.

The fight or flight syndrome is a psychology term to describe a response to
fear. The muscles tighten up, the heart beats faster, the palms and face may
sweat, and the body and mind feels like they have gone totally out of control.
It is the body's way of responding to a perceived fear or threat. Throughout
the Bible God is always reassuring His people by saying, "DO NOT BE AFRAID".
When the angels appeared to the shepherds, they said, "do not be afraid. I
bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people". Jesus said, "do
not let your hearts be troubled and DO NOT BE AFRAID". God does not want us to
fear life, yet so often we allow fear to take over. When you feel fear starting
to take hold of your life stop and pray that God would remove that fear and
give you peace. Pray for His comforting touch and love to take hold in your
life. Let the peace of God rule in your heart and claim victory over the fear
that tries to control you. Remember anxiety is nothing more than fear of events
that have not even happened yet. Why be afraid of the future when God is on
your side?

Joshua 6:2-5 (NIV)
2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands,
along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all
the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of
rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city
seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound
a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the
wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight
in."

The people of Jericho had been fierce fighters, but God had allowed the
Iraelites to push them back into the fortified city walls. Now pent up inside
the city God gave Joshua a plan. It was a plan that would not sound sane to any
general ready to fight a war. Yet God was giving His word to Joshua to carry
out. It was the plan God expected Joshua to fulfill if Joshua planned to
defeat the city.

We go through life wondering about God's will and direction. We often question
what it is we are suppose to do and how we are suppose to proceed. Yet God has
already given us a plan to follow. He has given us His word, has taught us how
to live, has shown us through His son how to sacrifice, and the meaning of
grace. If we become imitators of our Savior then we are fulfilling God's will
and purpose for our lives. As imitators of our Savior Jesus Christ, God can
use us where ever we are and in what ever we are doing. Pray that God will
continue to make you more Christ like in your walk with Him. Look to His word
for guidance just as Joshua did even if sometimes it does not make sense. God
will take His word and use it in your life at times when you least expect it to
make His plan known to you. God bless you and may his plan for your life be
revealed.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)
6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you
welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Paul is writing to Thessalonians who Paul always gave thanks for in their
witness. They had shown an outstanding faith in the gospel by becoming not only
imitators of those who shared, but also of the Lord. And in their suffering
they had experienced a joy given to them by the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever thought about the words suffering and joy being used to describe
a persons condition;. they just don't seem to mix. It's like trying to mix fire
and water. But yet Paul said the Thessalonians found joy in their suffering.
God is able to do the impossible. Even in our moments of suffering He is able
to produce joy if we look to see what He is doing in our lives. God is
transforming us through our trials and suffering into something more wonderful
that pleases Him. And in it we find joy that goes beyond anything we can
measure. Pray that God lets you see the joy He has in store for you. Let Him
show you the promises of His word.

Matthew 16:21-23 (NIV)
21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and
teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised
to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he
said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get
behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the
things of God, but the things of men."

Jesus had been preparing the disciples for His death. And now He was explaining
how He would suffer, be killed and raised to life on the third day. Earlier
Peter had told Jesus that Jesus was the Christ and now Peter is saying never
shall this happen to you. Jesus just said He will be raised back to life, yet
Peter is saying "this shall never happen to you". No wonder Jesus calls out
Satan and says to Peter that he is a stumbling block. Peter is thinking of
himself and not God's purpose, which was revealed to him earlier.

Have you ever started out on a shopping trip to buy something for another
person and ended up buying something for yourself? The purpose of the trip was
for the other person, but somehow the priority changed and you focused on
yourself and ended up taking home something for you instead? We do that with
God's purpose for our lives. He reveals what He wants us to obtain for our life
and then we buy into something else. We end up following our temptations. Pray
that Christ would protect you from satan's temptations. Follow His purpose for
your life and not your own priorities. Let His will, His love, His care, His
work flow in your life. God bless you and have a wonderful day.

Deuteronomy 32:15-18 (NIV)
15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek.
He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior. 16 They
made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable
idols. 17 They sacrificed to demons, which are not God—gods they had not known,
gods that recently appeared, gods your fathers did not fear. 18 You deserted
the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.

These people had been an upright and seeing people, but they had lost their
reputation. They had abandoned God, their rock, their salvation. And instead
had traded God for idols and demons. These gods their fathers had not feared
because they had only feared the one true God who protected them. God reminds
them and says, you forgot who gave you birth. In other words, you forgot who
put you here.

Even the most upright Christian person can fall and loose their way, loose
their reputation, loose their friends, maybe even loose their family. They
forget their Rock, their Savior, their God that placed them where they are and
they let sin lead them away. Some may wander so far from God that they find new
gods in their life and desert the God who always kept them safe. But our God
never leaves us. He is always there calling to us, reminding us of our
misdeeds. He wants us to return to Him and give up the powerless demons for a
powerful God. Pray that if you are slipping away you will return to your God.
Pray that Christ will strengthen you and walk with you in your journey. He is
your ROCK, your SALVATION.

2 Samuel 7:8-9 (NIV)
8 "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I
took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my
people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut
off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the
names of the greatest men of the earth.

The Lord said He took David from a place of loneliness, where he had been
rejected by his family, left to care mostly for himself and the sheep to make
him ruler of God's people. But he was never alone, for God was always there
with him protecting him. And now God was going to make him great, a name that
would be remembered forever. Just think how many people know King David , the
Temple of David, the Star of David, or the story of David and Goliath. What
child hasn't heard the story of the boy who felled the giant with the sling?
The Lord kept his promise and made his name great.

Darlene Rose was a missionary in New Guinea when the Japanese took her as a POW
during WWII. Starving, alone, beaten, all she had was God. She knew that He was
there with her where ever she was. Having lost considerable weight she prayed,
"God, you know I'm thankful for the rice porridge and worms, but I would like a
banana, not a bunch, just one." The next day she just knew the guards were
coming to beat her after forgetting to bow to them, but instead the guard
opened the door and laid a bundle of bananas at her feet, 92 of them, not just
one. God never left Rose, He was always there with Her. In fact as it says in
Psalms, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.", God
truly prepared a banquet for Rose because of her prayer and His desire to care
for her. Do you realize that God is always with you too? He cares for you just
like He cared for Rose. Pray and let God know what is on your heart. Let him
know about your loneliness, your pains, your hurts, and your needs. God is
listening because He is always close to you.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10
If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and
has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep
warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two
can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

The wisdom of Solomon as he reflects on the unity of those under God's love and
grace. These have formed an alliance, a bond, a friendship that is bound by
God's love. They help and rescue one another, they comfort and sooth one
another, and they protect one another.

I am sure you have seen geese in the shape of a "V" flying in the sky. By
flying in formation they work together to reduce the wind drag. When one bird
tires, another rotates to the front where the wind drag is the greatest. The
birds in the rear honk to encourage the others in the front to keep flying. If
one bird falls out of the group, several others will fall out with him to
ensure his protection. Working together they reach where they are going. Are
you reaching where you are going in your marriage or your friendships? Perhaps
you are missing your mark because you have neglected to include God. God's love
is what binds the marriage or brings friends closer together. Pray for God's
endless love to fill your life. Pray that the loneliness, despair, turmoil,
hopelessness will empty as His love overflows in your life. God bless you and
may you find His blessing in your life.

Matthew 16:1-4 (NIV)
1The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show
them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will
be fair weather, for the sky is red,' 3and in the morning, 'Today it will be
stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the
appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A
wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be
given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were always out to get Jesus, so they asked him to
produce a sign from heaven to prove who He was. He gave a response they already
looked for signs that were not even of God to predict the weather. And yet they
had the word of God that showed an unrighteous city turned to God for their
sins and they were ignoring the sins of the present day.

There is an old adage that says, "Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky
in morning, sailor’s warning." In Shakepears play, VENUS and ADONIS there is a
line, "Like a red morn that ever yet betokened, Wreck to the seaman, tempest to
the field, Sorrow to the shepherds, woe unto the birds, Gusts and foul flaws to
herdmen and to herds.” There is "some" amount of scientific truth around the
2000 year old idea to predict the weather by the red sky. The problem is many
people will take the "old adage" as truth to their heart and ignore the truths
of God. It's exactly what Jesus was telling the Pharisees and Sadducees. They
were looking for the wrong things. They should have been looking for what God
was to change their hearts and the hearts of others. They should have been
looking for a revival, a cleansing of sin, but instead they just wanted to see
miracles. Pray that God would start a revival in your heart and that it would
spread to others. Pray to seek God and know He is real and living; and that you
would not need signs or miracles to know of His existence.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—
yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need.

In these verses just as the high priest of the temple would pass through the
curtain into the Holy of Holies Jesus has gone through the heavens as our high
priest to the throne of God. There He knows our weaknesses, our temptations,
our faults, and He is able to sympathize and speak with the Father. Because we
have someone who understands our infirmities, Jesus can speak on behalf of our
sin that we may receive abundant mercy and grace.

The other day I was walking through a home building supply store and I saw a
man struggling to load concrete board on a cart. The cart was rolling away as
he attempted to place the board on top of the cart. I knew what the struggle
was like, because I had loaded those same board by myself. The boards were
heavy, awkward to hold and the cart doesn't stay still, so I stopped to help
him. The man was grateful for the help, since no one else in the store had
stopped to help him. It makes a difference when someone understands the
struggle you are going through. Fortunately we have a savior who understands
all of our struggles. Jesus knows our pains, our heartaches, our hurts and our
needs. Better yet he understands our failures, our sins, our infirmities, and
our temptations and He lets us receive mercy and grace abundantly from Him.
Pray and give thanks to Jesus for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for his love,
for his understanding, for his friendship, and for being there when you need
him.

1 John 1:8-10 (NLT)
8 If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to
accept the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just
to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 10 If we claim we have not
sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our
hearts.

John is being straightforward in his writing. He says there is no way we can be
without sin and we are only lying to ourselves if that is what we believe.
John gives us two options: claim our sin and confess it; or lie and make God
the liar. If we confess our sin then God will cleanse us from every wrong we
have committed, but to call God the liar eliminates Him from our heart.

Have you ever been driving your car down the road and suddenly heard a strange
noise. My first thought is I hope that stops. I start to ignore I even hear the
noise. The noise might even quit for a while and I keep thinking it's "going
to go away". But, eventually the car breaks down and I have to take the car to
the shop. I was fooling myself and I had to accept the truth something was
broke. Sometimes we can fool ourselves in the same way about sin. We fool
ourselves into thinking what we are doing is not sin until we find ourselves
broken, hurt, damaged and in need of help. It's all because we have ignored
God's truth and turned it into a lie. Pray the word of God may shine as truth
in your heart. Let it illuminate the sins hidden there and confess them to God.
God so much wants to cleanse and heal you from each and every one that has hurt
you.

Genesis 1:27-31 (NIV)
27 So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself;
male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and told them, "Multiply
and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all
the animals." 29 And God said, "Look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants
throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given
all the grasses and other green plants to the animals and birds for their
food." And so it was. 31Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that
it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.

God created us in his image. One may be physically male and the other
physically female, but we all fully possess the attributes of God. Males are
given to the masculine nature of God, while females are given to the feminine
nature of God. Therefore we are all patterned after God. God blessed us with a
wonderful world to live in that he created for us. He filled the world with
amazing creatures and told us to be masters over them. And God looked back and
saw everything as excellent.

David said it best in 2 Samuel 7, when he said, "who am I". God had just
blessed David, but he realized in this big world, why him? And David had to
think who am I to even understand God's reasoning, God's plans, God's
judgement, God's wisdom, God's love. God that created everything, "who are we"
that He would even give any of us a second thought. Someone so big, so
powerful, so awesome, does he even have time for me? Think of Donald Trump, or
any movie star, wouldn't they ignore our call? Yet the God of the universe is
waiting with out reached arms. He longs to talk with you. He created you just
so you could fellowship with Him that is how much He loves you. Pray and thank
God for creating you in His image and His desire to fellowship with you. Let
Him know you need a friend and He will respond to you.

Psalms 143:10 (KJV)
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me
into the land of uprightness.

The words for land of uprightness are literally "an even land". David was
looking for a place to do God's will where he could spiritually walk on flat
pastures.

In the new testament Paul told us to go through life as though we were running
a race. He said we were to run a good race always looking ahead to the prize
that was before us. If you have ever run in a race or watched one you probably
know the ground does not stay flat. In the San Francisco Marathon imagine all
the hills rolling up and down the course as the marathon winds through the
city. Runners struggle with each breath going up hills and they ease back as
they run down the hills. As they approach flat ground they can stretch out full
and run. David was looking for that flat ground where spiritually he could wind
out in full stretch living for God. David didn't want to struggle with the sins
going uphill and he didn't want to ignore God by living too freely and easily.
David wanted to be on flat ground, in the land of uprightness, living for God,
doing His will. Pray that God would place you in the land of uprightness doing
His will and living according to His word. Pray that as you race for the prize
you will keep your eyes focused on Jesus. May God bless you and care for you
always.

Ezra 3:10-12 (NIV)
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests
in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with
cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of
Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good;
his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of
praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the
former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being
laid, while many others shouted for joy.

The temple of the Lord was being rebuilt after having been destroyed. There
were two sets of feelings present as the foundation was finally laid in place.
Those who had never seen the temple were elated with joy and thanksgiving that
mercy had been given to provide them a place to worship. But there were some
living in the past regretting the sins that had befallen them and they knew the
glory of the new temple would not match the glory of the old temple.

Each year we have a day of Thanksgiving to remember the things we are thankful
for in our lives. It is a time of gathering of family and friends. It is a
holiday based on religious freedom and a celebration of a bountiful harvest. We
have been given great mercy in this nation that we have a place to worship and
call upon the name of the Lord. But in the news a teacher in Saudi Arabia was
given 750 lashes and placed in prison for teaching about our Bible. Mohammad al-
Harbi was charged with advancing a “dubious ideology, mocking religion, saying
the Jews were right, discussing the gospel and preventing students from leaving
class to wash for prayer.” We have much to be thankful for. Do we live in the
past remembering hurts, sins, and things that weight us down? Or do we trust
God to rebuild the sins that have been torn down and start our lives fresh each
day. Pray and give thanks to our Lord. Let your voice be praises of
thanksgiving to Him.

Romans 15:1-6 (The Message)
1 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a
hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us.
Strength is for service, not status. 2 Each one of us needs to look after the
good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"
3 That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding
people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles
of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. 4 Even if it was written in
Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the
combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in
Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do
next. 5 May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in
you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us
all. 6 Then we'll be a choir--not our voices only, but our very lives singing
in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

These verses are written as directions on how we are to respond to those who do
not have the strength to carry forward in life. Jesus is given as our example
that we should follow. He never avoided the problems of the people, but was
willing to face them.

Can you imagine a choir if they did not work together to sing their parts of a
song? What if one person decided to sing one song while another person chose
something else. Or the tenors decided they wanted to act like they had bass
voices, but all that was coming out was broken notes. As Christians God calls
us to work together in harmony just as a choir is to work together to produce
beautiful music, each performing their part, each using their own talent. We
are to use our strengths together to help those in need. And as God uses your
strength He will develop you and use you that you may join with others in
helping His family. Pray that God use you in His service to others, ministering
as Jesus ministered. Pray that He blends you into His family where you become
stronger and stable and mature, able to love others, and always reaching out.
God bless each and everyone one of you and may you be strengthened and
encouraged.

Job 2:7-10 (NLT)
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with
painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job
took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the
ashes. 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity?
Curse God and die!" 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman.
Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin
in what he said.

Little is said of Job's wife, but here we find her telling Job to curse God and
die. We need to remember she has lost all of her possessions and all of her
children with Job and now her husband who had been in good health suddenly has
been afflicted with a horrible disease. The only person who could comfort her
is sitting in the ashes with no one to comfort him. Only the dust of the ashes
and the scraping of the pottery helps relieve any of the suffering he is
enduring. She is watching him suffer in excruciating pain while Job is still
being the backbone of the family by acknowledging that God has the right to
effect His plan in our lives.

I'll ask the question Job's wife asked, "Are you holding on to your integrity?"
When God implements His plan in your life and you are faced with a trial are
you able to make the same statement as Job? Can you say, "Shall we accept good
from God, and not trouble?" It's easy to take the good parts of life, but it's
difficult when God allows the rough parts of life to come along. Yet Job
endured and so can the rest of us because God is faithful and will be with us
until the end. Pray that God will maintain your integrity and never allow you
to weaken. Pray that you will be faithful to Him. Accept good or trouble
because there can be blessings in both as long as God is with you. God bless
you and may Christ comfort, love and bless you each and every day.

1 John 2:1-2 (KJVR)
1 My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if
any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous; 2 and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but
also for the sins of the whole world.

John affectionately writes to those he has lead to Christ to let them know they
are free from sin, but if sin enters their life they have Christ to plead their
case in heaven. Who better that the one who made atonement for all the sins of
the whole world.

If you were choosing a lawyer to represent you, wouldn't you want one that had
seen every possible problem and knew how to deal with it? Then there would be
no surprises at the trial. Well we have an advocate in Jesus who took on every
sin of the world and felt every single pain that came with them. As one of His
children He represents us with all His vigor and love so we can avoid the
sentence of death that comes with the penalty of sin. If you have placed your
faith in Jesus Christ as your lord and savior then you are one of his children
who he gladly represents. Pray that His love will always be evident in your
life and that you understand His forgiveness. Know that He is by your side
taking up for you with each and every sin you confess. Even now He is standing
before the Father ready to ask for your forgiveness.

2 Kings 22:10-13 (NIV)
10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given
me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. 11 When the
king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave
these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of
Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: 13 "Go and
inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is
written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns
against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they
have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."

During the rule of King Josiah he had ordered the rebuilding of the temple
because he was a good king like David, unlike the previous kings who worshipped
idols. The appointed priest found the Book of the Law hidden away in the temple
and sent it to the king. When Joshiah heard the words he torn his robes in
anguish knowing the people had been disobedient to God.

One has to wonder how a temple that once was magnificent and glorious to behold
lost treasured words, laws, commandments of God. The problem was they were
never lost, but instead set aside because the people did not want to obey them
any longer. They had hidden them away in hopes God would not notice their
actions. They thought they could remove God from their lives and face no
penalty, yet they had lived in corruption for years. King Manasseh who lived
prior to Josiah built pagan temples, bowed to other gods, scarified his son in
the fire, consulted with psychics and mediums, and left a trail of innocent
peoples blood from one end of Jerusalem to the other. And today in our lives if
we are not careful we will allow God's word to once again be hidden away. Look
at the efforts to take Merry Christmas out of the Christmas holiday. There are
debates as to whether the National Christmas tree should be put up because it
represents a religion. The Pledge of Allegiance is under attack. Prayer has
been removed from schools. Slowly we are being attacked by the enemy. Pray God
would raise up leaders to defend God's work. Pray you would be bold in your
witness and your stand for God's kingdom. Don't let His word slip away from
your life.

John 19:38-42 (NLT)
38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus
(because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take
Jesus' body down. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took the body
away. 39 Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing
about seventy-five pounds[g] of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
40 Together they wrapped Jesus' body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as
is the Jewish custom of burial. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden,
where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the
day of preparation before the Passover and since the tomb was close at hand,
they laid Jesus there.

Upon the death of Christ, two people who had followed Christ in secret stepped
forward to take care of His body. These were two men of influence and power.
Yet they feared what would happen if everyone else knew they followed Jesus, so
they had remained silent in their acknowledgment of Him up until now. In His
death and their grieving they felt a sense of loss for the one who cared for
their soul and the one who loved them more than anyone else. Secrecy no longer
mattered. It was time to make a statement about the one who cared for them.

I want to pass along some words from Zig Ziglar the motivational speaker. {In
this Christmas season we hear people using the term "happy holidays." Needless
to say, when Muslims are celebrating Ramadan, nobody says to them, "Happy
Holiday," and when my Jewish friends are celebrating Yom Kippur, nobody says to
them, "Happy Holiday." However, at Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of
Christ (without which there would be NO Christmas), more and more people are
sending "Happy Holiday" cards. When I'm greeted with "Happy Holidays!", I smile
(and I encourage you to do the same thing), thank them, and then say, "I'll go
you one better. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas, since this is the celebration
of the birth that had the most impact of any birth since the history of
mankind." When the Babe in Bethlehem was born it was announced that He was the
Savior of the world. When He made the supreme sacrifice on the cross, He simply
said, "It is finished," because when He arose three days later He had triumphed
over the grave. Christianity is not a "religion." It is a relationship with
Christ as Lord. All "religions" require that you work your way to Heaven with
your good deeds. In Christianity, we believe our way into Heaven. The Bible
clearly says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe
in our hearts that God raised Him from death, we will be saved.} In this
Christmas season don't forget Christ who lived and died for us. Pray and
remember a child born in manger one lonely night who grew to be a man that was
willing to pay for your sins. Don't let this season pass by without reminding
others it is CHRISTmas.

Luke 1:49 (NLT)
49 For he, the Mighty One, is holy, and he has done great things for me.

These are the words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she greets her cousin
Elizabeth. According to Luke, an angel of God foretold Mary of the birth of
Jesus and that she was to become pregnant and her cousin Elizabeth in her old
age had become pregnant as well. Mary left within a few days to visit Elizabeth
and when Elizabeth saw her she said, "You are blessed by God above all other
women, and your child is blessed." Mary who should have been scared, panicked,
frightened, fearful, because she could have been stoned to death for being an
unwed mother was instead praising God.

Fear is an emotion we have that is a response to stresses in our life. It can
be a normal part of our life in that it prepares us for survival. Most of us as
we approach the edge of a cliff become more cautious from the fear of falling
knowing the danger that lies close to the edge. On the other hand some of us
might get behind the wheel of a car and head down the interstate on a rainy day
at 70 mph. However there is real danger in that situation and yet most of us
have no fear at all in driving a car. And some of us might be in a place where
we are fearful of many things going on around us. Things may feel out of
control and our thoughts are constantly running away with fears. Where ever
you are remember the great things God has done for you. If its driving fast
down the highway, remember the protection He has given when you should have
been fearful. And for those living in undue fear, remember God is able to
overcome problems, for He is the Mighty One. Pray and remember the great and
good things God has done in your life. Always give thanks to God and His Son
for the good in your life.

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day
and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you
will be prosperous and successful.

Moses has died and the Israelites are preparing to cross the Jordan River into
the promised land. God is speaking to Joshua who is ready to lead the people.
God tells Joshua to obey the Book of the Law that Moses gave him and to
meditate on it and to follow it in order that he might be prosperous and
successful.

A company will spend thousands of dollars on advertising to come up with a
slogan that represents their product. Barry Manilow wrote many advertising
jingles for companies. Some of them are; "You deserve a break today, so get up
and get away, to McDonalds", "I am stuck on Band-aid, and Band-aid's stuck on
me", "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there". All you need to do is hear
the words and they bring to mind the thought of the product. God's word is more
powerful and is living. When we commit God's word to our minds and soul we are
putting in place a plan that in times of need those words will return to us
like a familiar jingle. They will be clear and evident in our lives giving us
hope and wisdom to keep us touch with our Lord. God will come to our mind and
we will never forget what He has done for us. Have you read God's word today?
Pray that you might find more time to spend reading about Him. Find out who our
Lord is and what our Savior has done for us. Look for the blessings He has
provided. May God bless you always.