2022-12-24
Matthew 2:11 AMPC
The Bible tells us: “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem… [astrologers] from the east came… asking, ‘Where is He… born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east… and have come to worship Him.’… and behold, the star… went before them until it… stood over the place where the young Child was… And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to him gifts – gold… frankincense and myrrh” (vv. 1-2, 9, 11 AMPC).
One Bible teacher says: “We all remember the Christmas story: how… Wise Men came from the east following a star which led them to the Holy Child, how they came in and worshiped Him, laying before Him precious gifts… Mary and Joseph didn’t go out seeking gifts. Although they were forced to spend the night in a cold, dark stable, they didn’t send out messages asking for gifts. But because they were in the middle of God’s will, He sent them Wise Men… on camels, loaded down with provisions… If we are in the will of God, He will… bring our provision to us. We don’t have to try to chase it down; it will seek us out. We don’t have to try to make things happen; God will bring them to us… The camels will come for each of us if we will stay in the will of God. The only way we can expect this kind of provision is by being faithful… where God has placed us… When we begin to believe this, we are free to cast our care upon Him. We don’t have to stay up all night fretting and worrying.”
Soul food: Isa 9:1-7; Micah 5:2-5a
2022-12-23
Jesaja 61:1 NLV
Hierdie tyd van die jaar is dit maklik om by die mite in te koop dat almal anders ‘n prentjiemooi Kersfees geniet. Die waarheid is dat daar duisende mense daar buite is wie se lewens vir altyd deur die dood, skeisake, siekte en finansiële probleme verander is.
Tammy Hanson Maltby skryf: ‘Dit was 20 Desember. Daar was geen teken van Kersfees in ons huis nie. Gewoonlik is ons kersboom al einde November opgeslaan en kersmusiek en lieflike geure het die lug gevul. Nie hierdie jaar nie. My huwelik van 20 jaar was pas verby. My begroting was in sy kanon in en my gees was gespanne. Sommige dae kon ek skaars uit die bed klim. Al vier my kinders was tuis vir die vakansie. Steeds was daar geen boom nie. ‘Dis regtig depressief,’ het ek een van my kinders hoor grom en my hart het weer gebreek. ‘Ek sal môre ‘n boom kry,’ het ek weer belowe. Selfs ek het nie my eie woorde geglo nie. Daardie aand het ek stemme in die woonkamer gehoor. Daar, naby die klavier het ‘n kunsmatige klein kersboompie gestaan wat ek jare gelede gekoop het om die kinders se ornamente wat hulle by die skool gemaak het – ornamente wat net nie reg op my majestueuse, versierde, regte kersboom gelyk het nie – te hang. Die kinders het dit opgeslaan en met liggies en die ornamente wat van hulle kleintyd oorgebly het, versier. Dit was pragtig, ek was bly en verskriklik dankbaar dat hulle dit saam vir my gedoen het.’
As jy ‘n moeilike Kerstyd het, moenie te hard op jouself wees nie. Onthou, jy kan deur enigiets vir een dag kom (sien Deuteronomium 33:25). Jesus verstaan. Hy het gekom ‘…om dié wat hartseer is, te troos…,’ draai dus na Hom toe hierdie Kersfees en vra Hom om jou vrede en vreugde te herstel.
Sielskos: Miga 5-7; Joh 19:17-30; Ps 47; Spr 31:6-9
Isaiah 61:1 MSG
At this time of year, it’s tempting to buy into the myth that everybody else is enjoying a picture-perfect Christmas. The truth is, there are thousands out there whose lives have been forever altered by death, divorce, sickness, and financial problems.
Tammy Hanson Maltby writes: “It was December 20. There was no hint of Christmas around our house… Most years, our tree was up the day after Thanksgiving… Christmas music… and luscious aromas filled the air… Our house had been Christmas central. Not this year… My 20-year marriage had just dissolved… My budget was stretched… and my spirit was strained even further. Some days I could barely manage to get out of bed… All four of my kids were home on Christmas break. And there was still no tree. ‘This is really depressing,’ I heard one of them grumble, and my heart broke again. ‘I’ll get a tree tomorrow,’ I repeated. Even I didn’t believe my words. That evening… I heard voices… in the… basement… There, near the piano, stood the scruffy little artificial conifer… I’d bought… years before, and I used it to hang [the kids’] school ornaments… creations that just didn’t look right on my majestic, fragrant, decorated, upstairs tree… The kids had… set it up, draped it with lights, and hung their childhood ornaments… It was still scruffy, but it was beautiful… I was happy… And overcome with gratitude that they had gotten together to make it happen for me.”
If you’re having a tough Christmas, don’t beat yourself up. Remember, you can get through anything for one day (See Deuteronomy 33:25). Jesus understands. He came to “heal the heartbroken,” so turn to Him this Christmas and ask Him to restore your peace and joy.
Soul food: Micah 5-7; John 19:17-30; Ps 47; Prov 31:6-9
2022-12-22
2 Korintiërs 9:15 NLV
Een middag het ‘n dogtertjie buite Pete Richardson se antiekwinkel gestaan en die skatte in die venster bestudeer. Toe het sy ingegaan en gevra om ‘n string blou krale te sien. Toe Pete dit op die toonbank neersit, het sy gesê: ‘Dis perfek. Sal Oom dit asseblief toedraai? Dis vir my suster. Sy sorg vir my. Dit sal ons eerste Kersfees wees vandat Mamma oorlede is en ek soek al lank na die perfekte geskenk vir haar.’ ‘Hoeveel geld het jy?’ het Pete versigtig gevra. Sy het ‘n klomp munte op die toonbank uitgegooi en gesê: ‘Ek het my spaarvarkie leeggemaak.’ Pete het die halssnoer opgetel, met die prys na hom toe gedraai. ‘Wat is jou naam?’ het hy gevra. ‘Jean Grace,’ het sy geantwoord. Pete het die krale mooi toegedraai, die dogtertjie het hom bedank en sy winkel verlaat.
Op Oukersaand, toe die laaste klant weg is en hy besig was om die winkel te sluit, het ‘n jong vrou die winkel binnegehardloop en ‘n bekende pakkie vir hom gegee. ‘Kan jy onthou aan wie jy hierdie verkoop het?’ het sy gevra. “‘n Dogtertjie genaamd Jean het dit vir haar ousus gekoop.” ‘Hoeveel is die halssnoer werd?’ het sy gevra. ‘Die prys,’ het Pete geantwoord, ‘is altyd vertroulik tussen die verkoper en sy kliënt.’ Haar suster het gevra: ‘Maar hoe het sy daarvoor betaal?’ Pete het die pakkie versigtig weer toegemaak, vir haar teruggegee en gesê: ‘Sy het die grootste prys wat mens kan betaal, gegee. Sy het alles wat sy het, gegee.’
Toe God sy Seun gestuur het om ons te verlos (sien Galasiërs 4:4 NLV), het Hy alles gegee wat Hy gehad het. ‘Dank aan God vir sy onbeskryflike gawe!’
Sielskos: Miga 1-4; Joh 19:1-16; Ps 12; Spr 31:1-5
2 Corinthians 9:15 CEV
One afternoon a little girl stood outside Pete Richardson’s antique shop studying the treasures in the window. Then she went in and asked to see a string of blue beads. When Pete set them on the counter, she said: “They’re perfect. Will you gift wrap them, please? They’re for my sister. She takes care of me. This will be our first Christmas since Mom died, and I’ve been looking for the perfect present.” “How much do you have?” asked Pete cautiously. Pouring a stack of coins on the counter, she said, “I emptied my bank.” Pete picked up the necklace, the price tag visible to him and not her. “What’s your name?” he asked, walking into the back room. “Jean Grace,” she replied. Pete returned with a beautifully wrapped package, and the little girl thanked him and left.
On Christmas Eve when the last customer had left and he was locking up, a young woman rushed into the store and handed him a familiar package. “Do you remember who you sold this to?” she asked. “A girl called Jean bought them for her big sister,” he replied. “How much are they worth?” she inquired. “The price,” Pete replied, “is always confidential between the seller and his customer.” Her sister asked, “But how could she pay for them?” Carefully rewrapping the present, Pete handed it back to her and said, “She paid the biggest price anyone can ever pay. She gave everything she had.”
When “God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4 KJV) to redeem us, He gave everything He had. “Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!”
Soul food: Micah 1-4; John 19:1-16; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
