2020-12-25
Matthew 2:11 KJV
He was born in the humblest of settings, yet heaven above was filled with the songs of angels. His birthplace was a cattle shed, yet a star brought the rich and noble from thousands of miles away to worship Him. His birth was contrary to the laws of life and His death was contrary to the laws of death, yet no miracle is greater than His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection and His teachings.
He had no cornfields or fisheries, yet He spread a table for 5,000 and had bread and fish to spare. He never stood on expensive carpeting, yet He walked on the waters and they supported Him. His crucifixion was the crime of crimes, yet from God’s perspective no less a price could have made possible our redemption. When He died, few mourned His passing, yet God hung a black cape over the sun. Those who crucified Him did not tremble at what they’d done, yet the earth shook under them. Sin never touched Him. Corruption could not get hold of His body. The soil that was reddened with His blood could not claim His dust. For over three years He preached the gospel. He wrote no book, He had no headquarters and He built no organization. Yet two thousand years later He’s the central figure of human history, the perpetual theme of all preaching, the pivot around which the ages revolve, and the only redeemer of the human race.
At this season of celebration and gift-giving, let’s join the wise men who “fell down and worshipped him.” Let’s remember, Christmas is about – Christ!
Soul food: Isa 9:1-7; Matt 1:18-25; Mic 5:2-5a; Isa 7:14
2020-12-24
Psalm 34:18 NIV
When you find yourself alone at Christmas, the sights and sounds that once brought joy can reinforce your sense of sadness and loss. There is no magic, get-well-quick formula; processing what you’ve lost takes time and God’s sustaining grace. But here are some insights to help you:
(1) Don’t assume. Don’t buy into the myth that everybody else is having a perfect Christmas while you struggle. The truth is, we all experience the unrealistic demands and pressures of shopping, entertaining and gift-giving. And it’s worse in times of heartache. That’s why we’re so relieved when it’s over.
(2) It’s just one day out of 365. You can handle it for twenty four hours because God has promised to give you “strength…equal [to] your days” (Deuteronomy 33:25 NIV).
(3) Take the focus off yourself. Reach out. See if there’s a needy family or a hurting acquaintance who’d enjoy spending an hour with you. It’ll probably be the last thing you feel like doing, but it is therapeutic, restores your perspective and brings a sense of wellbeing and gratitude.
(4) Start some new traditions, especially when old ones just make you feel worse. “Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13 NKJV).
If you’re feeling lonely, here’s a prayer for you. “Lord, you know my heart aches today. Your Word says You are close to the brokenhearted. Let me feel Your nearness. Become more real to me than the activity without and the emptiness within. Help me draw close to You, and in so doing make this Christmas like none I’ve ever known.”
Soul food: Zech 9-11; Matt 1:12-17; Ps 117; Prov 31:18-21
Psalm 34:18 NIVUK
Christmas is a time of joy and celebration for many people, but for some of us, it can be a difficult time. We might have lost a loved one and this is the first Christmas without them, or it might be our first Christmas alone, away from family and friends. Sometimes, the happiness that everyone else seems to feel just reinforces our sense of loss and sadness. There’s no quick fix. Processing what we’ve lost takes time and God’s sustaining grace. But here are some insights to help:
1) Don’t be unrealistic in your expectations. If we’re struggling, there’s nothing wrong in reaching out for help. We don’t have to do everything ourselves. We also shouldn’t feel pressured into struggling to create a ‘perfect’ Christmas. If we’re not feeling up to doing the things we’d normally do, we shouldn’t feel guilty, or allow others to make us feel that way.
2) Try taking the focus off yourself. Reach out. We could see if there’s a needy family or a hurting friend who’d enjoy spending an hour with us. It won’t solve our problem, but it might help to have something different to focus on for a while. Helping others can be therapeutic and can help us get our perspective back.
3) Start some new traditions. Doing things the same way might stir up memories that make us feel worse. Sometimes doing something differently can help us get through a difficult time.
4) Spend time with God. ‘The LORD is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ Let’s reach out to God this Christmas and ask Him to exchange our sadness, loneliness, or brokenness for His peace.
Zech 9-11; Matt 1:12-17; Ps 117; Prov 31:18-21
Psalm 34:19 NLV
Wanneer jy jouself alleen tydens Kersfees bevind, kan die beelde en geluide wat jou eens vreugde verskaf het, jou sin van hartseer en verlies versterk. Daar is nie ‘n voel-vinnig-beter wonderkuur nie; om dit wat jy verloor het te prosesseer, neem tyd en God se genade. Hier is egter ‘n paar insigte om jou te help:
1) Moenie aanvaar nie. Moenie by die mite inkoop dat almal anders ‘n perfekte Kersfees het terwyl jy sukkel nie. Die waarheid is dat ons almal die onrealistiese druk en eise van inkopies, gaste vermaak en presente gee, ervaar. Dis erger in tye van hartseer. Dis hoekom ons so verlig is wanneer dit verby is.
2) Dis net een dag uit 365 dae. Jy kan dit vir vier-en-twintig uur hanteer, omdat God beloof het dat: ‘…jou krag soveel [sal] wees soos jou dae!’ (Deuteronomium 33:25 NLV).
3) Neem die fokus van jouself af. Reik uit. Kyk of daar ‘n behoeftige familie of ‘n kennis wat seer het is wat dit sal geniet om ‘n uur saam met jou deur te bring. Dis heel waarskynlik die laaste ding waarvoor jy lus sal wees, maar dis terapeuties, herstel jou perspektief en bring ‘n gevoel van welwillendheid en dankbaarheid mee.
4) Begin nuwe tradisies – veral as die ou tradisies jou net slegter laat voel. ‘…ek vergeet dit wat agter my lê, en strek my uit na dit wat voorlê’ (Filippense 3:13 NLV).
As jy eensaam voel, is hier ‘n gebed vir jou: ‘Here, U weet dat my hart vandag seer is. U Woord sê dat U naby diegene is wat hartseer is. Laat my u nabyheid voel. Word meer werklik vir my as die aktiwiteite sonder my geliefdes en die leegheid binne-in my. Help my om nader aan U te beweeg en maak sodoende hierdie Kersfees een soos ek nog nooit beleef het nie.’
Sielskos: Sag 9-11; Matt 1:12-17; Ps 117; Spr 31:18-21
2020-12-23
1 Kings 17:13 NIV
Picture a mother and her child in a severe famine, with just enough food for one last meal. Now picture Elijah saying, “Share with me what you’ve got. Don’t be afraid; God will make sure you’ve more than enough to see you through.” What would you have done? This woman chose to obey God. As a result, she survived her famine and outlived her pallbearers, and Jesus eulogized her in one of His sermons.
Basically there are two kinds of givers: those who give God their “leftovers,” and those who give Him their “firstfruits” (See Proverbs 3:9). The first givers see themselves as responsible for meeting their own needs, so the leftovers go to God’s work. But the problem with giving leftovers is that your generosity is tied to your self-sufficiency. And the moment you face financial uncertainty, generosity takes a back seat.
On the other hand, those who give God their firstfruits understand that He’s the source of everything they have. They are motivated to invest in His interests first and their own interests second. They believe in the scriptural principle that what you reap is always greater than what you sow (See 2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
Fear will cause you to become irrational and act contrary to what you believe in your heart. Doesn’t it make sense to trust God with your finances, since it all belongs to Him? And to trust Him with something that’s beyond your control anyway? Think about it: You say you trust God with your eternal destiny, yet you reject His invitation to be your financial partner. Does that make sense? The truth is, you can never out give God, so be generous!
Soul food: Zech 5-8; Matt 1:6b-11; Ps 113; Prov 31:14-17
